# Help me pick a Broadway show for my Mom. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 30, 2006, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-broadway-show-for-my-mom/374759 "2006-09-30T19:09:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2006, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-broadway-show-for-my-mom/374759/1 "2006-09-30T19:09:25Z")
Here is what we know: 1. She likes theatrical plays and lives near New York. 2. She liked Momma Mia because it had music from Abba. 3. Her favorite movie is the English Patient. 4. She likes good love stories. What can you come up with? ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-broadway-show-for-my-mom/374759/2 "2006-10-01T00:42:30Z")
How about **Phantom of the Opera**? Great love story, famous music, from England… I haven’t yet seen **The Drowsy Chaperone** but everyone keeps telling me it’s great. \*\*Hairspray \*\*has a lot of upbeat poppy songs, if she liked **Mamma Mia** she may like that as well. If you can get tickets to **Jersey Boys** , that features the songs of The Four Seasons, like **Mamma Mia** did with ABBA. Or you can check out one of the three famous revivals coming to Broadway this season, **Les Miserables** , **A Chorus Line** or **Company**. They may not fit your criteria exactly but they are all great shows. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-broadway-show-for-my-mom/374759/3 "2006-10-01T02:54:21Z")
[QUOTE=Eyebrows Of Doom] If you can get tickets to **Jersey Boys** , that features the songs of The Four Seasons, like **Mamma Mia** did with ABBA. [/QUOTE] except unlike Mamma Mia, which was ficticious, **Jersey Boys** is biographical, the story of Frankie Valli and the group ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-broadway-show-for-my-mom/374759/4 "2006-10-01T02:57:14Z")
Here is [a list](http://www.theatermania.com/broadway/) of what is curretnly playing From this list, I’d recommend **Spamalot** , **Company** , and **Spelling Bee** ---
**Author:** ![Hoops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoops/32/6408_2.png) [@Hoops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoops)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-broadway-show-for-my-mom/374759/5 "2006-10-01T06:38:24Z")
As far as **Jersey Boys** goes, assuming you can get the tickets, be advised that it is a fairly R-rated show. There is a fair amount of vulgar language, a (sort of) murder complete with stage blood, and a scene in which one character loses his virginity to a prostitute (offstage), and then a joint is passed among the onstage characters. So if your Mom has, shall we say, delicate sensibilities, this might not be the show for her. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@MonkeyMule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMule)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-broadway-show-for-my-mom/374759/6 "2006-10-01T17:12:45Z")
Well if you’d love to see mom get all shocked take her to see **Avenue Q**. I mean it has muppet sex! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-broadway-show-for-my-mom/374759/7 "2006-10-02T01:25:06Z")
I’ve heard great things about The History Boys, which is not a musical but you said she liked plays. ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-broadway-show-for-my-mom/374759/8 "2006-10-02T02:24:08Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra] I’ve heard great things about The History Boys, which is not a musical but you said she liked plays. [/QUOTE] But alas, it closed tonight. To the OP, sounds like she might like \*[The Color Purple](http://www.playbill.com/events/event_detail/7560.html) \* or _[Grey Gardens](http://www.playbill.com/events/event_detail/8888.html)_, based on what you’ve told us about her. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-broadway-show-for-my-mom/374759/9 "2006-10-02T13:41:07Z")
I’d suggest Phantom–great story, great music, great sets, and now the longest running show on Broadway ever! ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-broadway-show-for-my-mom/374759/10 "2006-10-02T16:55:14Z")
Great suggestions guys, but she already saw **Phantom of the Opera**. I’m thinking about **Wicked** because Mom likes the whole fantasy theme, but it looks like a kids play. Anyone know if an adult would enjoy it? If not **Wicked** then **Company** sounds nice. Prostitutes and Muppet sex are big no-nos., unless the prostitute is Julia Roberts, then it’s ok. ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-broadway-show-for-my-mom/374759/11 "2006-10-02T23:14:21Z")
_Wicked_ is most certainly not a kids’ play, but good luck getting tickets. But then, you didn’t mention when this trip was taking place, so you may have a chance. _Company_ is nice, but Sondheim tends to be an acquired taste. Does she have a history of enjoying his work? ---
**Author:** ![baronsabato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@baronsabato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/baronsabato)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-broadway-show-for-my-mom/374759/12 "2006-10-03T02:16:05Z")
[QUOTE=DooWahDiddy] _Company_ is nice, but Sondheim tends to be an acquired taste. Does she have a history of enjoying his work? [/QUOTE] True, but “Company” is, as far as I’m concerned, one of his more accessible musicals. Of course, I’m a huge Sondheim fan, so it may not be as accessible (certainly not as much as “Wicked”) to the uninitiated, but I think it was actually one of the shows that really got me into Sondheim musicals, so who knows. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-broadway-show-for-my-mom/374759/13 "2006-10-03T03:08:05Z")
I saw [The two and only](http://www.theatermania.com/content/show.cfm/show/122859) when it was in LA last year. Very good one man show. Maybe not Mom’s cup of tea, but different and fun. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-broadway-show-for-my-mom/374759/14 "2006-10-03T03:55:56Z")
[QUOTE=DooWahDiddy] _Wicked_ is most certainly not a kids’ play, but good luck getting tickets. [/QUOTE] You weren’t kidding. ☹ Lets hope eBay comes through for me. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-broadway-show-for-my-mom/374759/15 "2006-10-03T07:05:56Z")
Isnt’ The Wedding Singer still playing? I hear that that is good in much the same way Mamma Mia is. Don’t know, I just heard-- because I live in the middle of Frickin’ nowhere! ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-broadway-show-for-my-mom/374759/16 "2006-10-03T12:08:19Z")
[QUOTE=Lakai] Anyone know if an adult would enjoy it? [/QUOTE] I can’t think of any Broadway shows that are truly kids shows. Even Beauty and the Beast\*, while kid friendly, is a solidly enjoyable show for adults. If your mom is a Donny Osmond fan, B&B may the show for you, he’s playing the villain Gaston for the next couple of months. Wedding Singer is still playing, it’s fun, but I wouldn’t necessarily think of it as a “mom” show. How about Drowsy Chaperone? - For the record, Mrs. Cheesesteak works at this show, this is a shameless plug. ---
**Author:** ![MidnightRadio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@MidnightRadio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MidnightRadio)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-broadway-show-for-my-mom/374759/17 "2006-10-03T22:53:47Z")
[QUOTE=Eyebrows 0f Doom] …the three famous revivals coming to Broadway this season, **Les Miserables** … [/QUOTE] They’re already reviving _Les Miz_? Isn’t it a little early for that? That’s got to be some kind of record for shortest gap between the original production and a revival. Is it going to have the same staging, costumes, etc. as the original, or is it an all-new production? ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-broadway-show-for-my-mom/374759/18 "2006-10-04T03:12:37Z")
[QUOTE=MidnightRadio] They’re already reviving _Les Miz_? Isn’t it a little early for that? That’s got to be some kind of record for shortest gap between the original production and a revival. Is it going to have the same staging, costumes, etc. as the original, or is it an all-new production? [/QUOTE] I think I read that there’s some difference in the orchestrations, but I don’t know what. As far as I know, I think the costumes and staging will be the same. I am really looking forward to it since Norm Lewis, whom I adore, will be playing Javert. It’s supposed to only be a six month limited run, but I’d bet if it sells out they’ll most likely extend it. My roommate also saw **The Two and Only** the other night, and she highly recommends it.