The Notebook Reviews

Susan from Chicago, Illinois

SO GOOD!

This show is worth your time and money. So well done, great music, well staged out. This will be a success on Broadway. Buy your tickets now

Elaine from Chicago, Illinois

BEAUTIFUL EMOTIONAL JOURNEY

Stunning and evocative depiction of love, struggle, life, and the choices we make. Love that experienced actors are front and center; they are simply extraordinary. Beautiful music and breathtakingly poignant lyrics. Fantastic layering of characters at different ages. Direction is superb. Can’t take your eyes off of middle Allie and both Noahs sing like angels. All seats are great. See it now before it heads to Broadway and scoops up Tonys.

Bryan Wood from Chicago, Illinois

TIMELESS STORY PRESENTED TIMELESSLY

The music was fantastic and the dialouge contemporary and surprisingly funny. But the choreography and songs presenting multiple perspectives simultaneously on the stage elevated this work in ways the page and screen simply couldn't. You feel Noah's desire to be with the woman he loves in different ways at different stages of his life all at once as music and actors join perfectly to occupy space together on stage, in your head, and in your heart. The same is true for Allie's desire to become the woman really is, despite society's obstacles. Amazingly done. You won't be disappointed. You definitely will laugh. And at the end, you'll probably stand cheering through tears like me and most of the rest of the house.

Linda from Chicago, Illinois

WHAT A SURPRISE!

I had refused to read the book or see the film because I thought it was schlock, filled with the tear-jerkings of a bodice-ripping romance novel. What a delightful surprise! The score and lyrics were sweet. The sets were simple and inviting, yet not distracting (including the Barbara Gaines water). As for the cast, all were superb. Once one suspended disbelief, the transitions of ages and races were smoothly performed. I anticipate that The Notebook will go on to open on Broadway. Bravo, Chicago Shakespeare Theater! One caveat: Yep, I must admit to tears.

Kathy Mabus from Chicago, Illinois

THE NOTEBOOK

Loved the musical, glad I spent the time to see the story again. The staging was amazing from scene changes to the rain storm. Can't wait to see it move to Broadway.

L B from MorristownNJ

BEAUTIFUL DEPICTION OF LIFE

The Notebook handles a sensitive subject in a beautiful and touching manner with a contemporary twist. I would absolutely recommend it.

Cindy from New York, New York

WE LOVED IT!

I read the book and saw them movie. Loved them both so I was very happy that this Broadway show retold the story and kept all the romance and emotion. The actors were top notch. The songs, not melodies you'll leave the theater singing, but very good for the story. The singers sang with all their hearts. We sat 6th row mezzanine, just off center and the seats were perfect. We really loved this show!! Junior's restaurant is right next door. A convenient place for lunch.

Brianne from New York, New York

NOT A DRY EYE

Never have I seen a play so beautifully written and so captivating. The entire audience was entranced and truly enjoyed the actors, music, and overall performance.

Rick Cummins from New York, New York

THE MOST MOVING SHOW I'VE SEEN

Not having ever read the book or seen the movie, I was an open-minded frequent theatre-goer motivated by curiosity. As a man in my 70's, I was so moved by recognizing my own life stories and the universality of our beginnings, middles, and ends. The huge talents of the actors, designers, and directors captured the story of our lives. I loved the songs! I loved this show!

Jen T from Halifax NS

FANTASTIC

I laughed, I cried and felt like I was only sitting 15 minutes by the time the intermission began. The singing was incredible. The orchestra did an excellent job. What a beautiful story performed by a talented cast. This is a play not to be missed!!

Charlie from Chicago, Illinois

IT’S GOOD, NOT YET GREAT

The 10-2 performers were terrific, including the understudy playing Old Noah. I agree the songs are not memorable but they are beautifully sung and all the harmonies are perfect. The rain scene is amazing. And the climax is beautiful and a true tearjerker. I should mention I’ve not read the book or seen the movie. The audience gave an enthusiastic standing ovation, largely, I believe because Act 2 is so strong. They need a couple of solid, memorable songs before they get to Broadway but this is a good show.

Beth Filapek from Chicago, Illinois

GOOD START, MUCH MORE WORK TO DO

Let me just start by saying how excited I was for this book to be turned into a musical. It has an amazing storyline that I could easily see set to music. It was about what I expected of a world premiere-lots of kinks to work out before moving on but still enjoyable. The pros: the story is beautiful. The orchestrations were very moving as well. There were some really great staging and lighting moments and it rained! Old Allie and Noah were incredible actors throughout. The cons: the character development of Allie and Noah is almost non-existent. You need to understand their conflict of classes and why they can’t be together to have the same emotional pull as the book and movie. The existence of Finn and Lon also was almost ignored. The song lyrics were awful to me. They were incredibly boring with almost no emotional pull to them. Nothing memorable at all. I would like to see the whole score reworked before heading to Broadway. Finally-a word on casting. Color blind casting has its time and place. This story revolves so much around rich, southern white people and that was not reflected. It was also confusing to have different races of actors portraying the characters at different times in their lives. My friend and I also swear young Allie kept alternating between two different actors! Very confusing. Still an enjoyable night out and an emotional story, but could be so much better with work!

Mitch Stewart from Chicago, Illinois

NOTEBOOK MUSICAL REVIEW

The play focuses on Noah and Allie and not so much the other characters in the book/movie. The acting and singing of all the Allie’s were fantastic! Noah’s character could sing well, but his character came across as possessive and creepy - to the point we were all cringing. It made it hard for my daughters and I to pull for the young and middle Noah… but the Old Noah was really good. I missed some of the classic lines from Noah too “if you’re a bird, I’m a bird”, “get in the water scene”, “it wasn’t over - and it’s still not over”, or the young witty Noah hanging from the Ferris wheel. I know you don’t want to copy it too much - just trying to think of ways to make the Noah character someone we root for - like we did in the movie or book. The music was all pretty good. Overall, I enjoyed it.

David Southerland from Chicago, Illinois

NOTHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT

With a unmemorable score and story that gets lost from curtain home to curtain down there is certainly many notes to fill a book but unfortunately these are notes on how to make this production entirely different from what was presented on the stage .

Rebecca S from Chicago, Illinois

SO DISAPPOINTED

One of my favorite movies of all time turned into a very disappointing musical with no memorable music and a book that also got lost in the way director told the story/ many audiences left at intermission but I did decide to stay / this needs a major major overhaul if it moves past this production.

Ava Monroe from Chicago, Illinois

LACKLUSTER, THERE WAS SO MUCH POTENTIAL FOR AN AMAZING MUSICAL

I love the Notebook and I love Ingrid Michaelson but this musical just didn’t do the story justice. The storyline was confusing, even for someone who knows what happens. The lyrics were not captivating and the music itself didn’t have enough punch. As much as I love Ingrid, I think she may have had too much direction for this production. It could have had more musical-esque flare under a different director. Though I enjoyed the opportunity to see a musical at this venue, I was disappointed in the Notebook.

Albert Santorini from New York, New York

THE SECOND ACT PICKED UP .

We saw this production in New York and the first act was very confusing wi the the characters flashbacks flash forwards - not much chemistry between the actors and the songs were just ok . Singing was very good. Act 2 was slightly better but not really emotional and realistic

Pilar from Chicago, Illinois

THE NOTEBOOK NOT

We went to the Shakespeare theater in Navy Pier to see the Notebook. I want to start by saying I read the book and saw the movie. This display that was performed was horrible. It was nothing like the movie or book. They should day it's a parody of rhe movie. Do not waste your time or money it was horrible

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