Minimum Familiarity: None (this article aims to provide you with just the right amount of familiarity as you decide whether you want to see The Notebook on Broadway)
A Brand New Series!
Welcome to the first post in a series called “To See or Not to See.” As implied by the title, this series (in addition to bearing the title of a mediocre Hamlet reference), will definitively answer the question of whether you (yes, you specifically) should see a given show.
I plan to generally write these about Broadway shows that have recently opened, and they’ll eventually form the backup material for a long-gestating guide on this site that will help you find the right show to see on a visit to New York.
On to The Notebook
But enough about lofty goals that may never actually come to pass. Today, we focus on The Notebook, the musical the website describes as “based on the best selling novel that inspired the iconic film.” Interpret that how you will, since I have not had the pleasure of reading the book or seeing the movie. In some ways this trait makes me quite unqualified for evaluating anything about this show, and in other ways it makes me a perfect blank slate.
Now before we get into the details, I want to note that this is not a review of The Notebook. A review would cover what I liked and didn’t like about the show, my overall impression, what it all means, that kind of stuff. While I might write something like that at some point, my goal here is to help you make a decision about if this show is right for you. So I’ll definitely be doing some guesswork about which aspects of a show appeal to which people, but I’m not here to deliver a verdict on if the show is “good” or not.
Most of my readers have probably heard of The Notebook in some context, but to quickly set the scene, the story centers on a couple that falls in and out of love over the course of their lives. Framed by interactions between the couple in their old age in the present, we flash back to the highs and lows of their journey together (and, sometimes, apart). To say more of the twists and turns would spoil the story, but this context should be enough for the recommendations that follow.
Who Are You?
After conducting decades of research (i.e., talking about it with friends and family), I’ve discovered there are exactly five kinds of people who find themselves trying to ascertain whether they want to see a specific Broadway show:
- Enthusiasts – appreciate shows that are innovative and effective as works of musical theater
- Spectacle Seekers – want to be wowed, whether it be through stunning design, impressive vocal performances, or incredible dancing
- Empaths – want to be moved; happy cries, sad cries, feeling anything feels good
- Theater Curious – either have a past connection to theater or a general interest in learning more about it. Seeking shows that aren’t too out-there, and serve as a good introduction to the form
- Plus Ones – did not purchase this ticket and are debating fabricating a sudden illness to avoid attending
Consider which one (or multiple) of these categories you fall into. In the sections that follow, I’ll provide a recommendation for whether each category of theatergoer should or should not choose to see The Notebook.
Enthusiasts: See It
Musical theater enthusiasts are likely familiar with the previous work of The Notebook director Michael Greif, who previously directed Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, and Rent, among others. As you would imagine given his credits, Greif thrives working on relatively small-scale musicals that explore serious, real-world issues.
Greif directs The Notebook alongside Schele Williams, and the pair do an effective job bringing to life a script (by Bekah Brunstetter) that splits the central love story between three pairs of actors, representing lovers Allie and Noah at three ages (younger, middle, and older, in case you’re interested in the technical details). To me, this choice was an effective way to theatricalize the story, allowing for abstract moments that draw parallels between moments throughout the couple’s story.
Choices in this vein helped elevate the story to feel more than the oversimplified romantic journey a more traditional telling may have devolved to, and it embraces unique techniques that fit the theatrical form perfectly.
Add to this a solid score by Ingrid Michaelson (take a listen to the song below for a taste), strong performances across the board (most notably from Joy Woods and Ryan Vasquez as Middle Allie and Middle Noah), and very well-executed design, and it becomes clear that theater enthusiasts will have a great time at The Notebook.
Spectacle Seekers: Don’t See It (with a Caveat)
If you read the previous section, I know what you’re thinking: but he said it has cool design! While I stand by that statement (and will add that the house Noah builds is a scenic highlight), this show just isn’t the place to go if you’re looking to be slapped in the face with spectacle. The Notebook is quite effective as a show, but wowing the audience with scale and surprises is not one of the primary tools it leverages to achieve that.
One note though: if impressive vocal performances alone do satisfy your desire for spectacle, I do recommend seeing this show. The aforementioned middle incarnation of Allie and Noah both absolutely crush it, and there are some lovely vocal moments for their younger counterparts too.
Empaths: See It
You probably don’t need me to tell you this, but yes, the musical based on The Notebook will make you feel something. It may make you feel a lot of things. And I know fans of this show often describe it as emotionally devastating, but I actually left with a more hopeful and optimistic take than its reputation would suggest.
Don’t get me wrong, you’ll probably still cry (and the souvenir stand will sell you tissues if you need them), and I even noticed a rising swell of sobbing the night I attended in anticipation of the conclusion of the story. Anticipatory sobbing was a new theatrical experience for me, but one I think I now understand.
Theater Curious: See It
The Notebook sits firmly on the accessible end of the spectrum when it comes to Broadway musicals. You’re not going to get lost in complicated plotlines or fall asleep during a 20-minute monologue here. Instead, the characters, story, and music all feel a little bit familiar. The plot moves where it should and slows down where it should too.
This show isn’t the place to go if you want to see what’s hip and trendy in the theater world (probably check out something more edgy like Lempicka or The Outsiders this season for that). Instead, it does the basics incredibly well and delivers moment after moment of aesthetic and musical beauty.
The Plus Ones: See It (But Also Why)
I fully support enthusiastic friends or partners who want to take you to a show with them. But The Notebook is certainly a bold choice for a night out. As long as you know the vibe, are okay with some questionable leaps of logic on the subject of dementia, and are okay weeping in front of your date, go ahead and say yes. But also, maybe ask to go to something a little more light-hearted next time?
So we’ve done it, totally comprehensive recommendations for every single type of person who might be considering a trip to The Notebook on Broadway. But to briefly undermine the prior sentence, these categories are a work in progress. If you don’t find yourself fitting into any of the five types of theatergoers I laid out, leave a comment below or shoot me a note.
The Notebook isn’t a perfect show, but it effectively tells the story it sets out to tell and does so in a visually appealing and emotionally impactful way. For those reasons I recommend this show to most potential theatergoers.
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