Get some idea of what's playing, get in line (which will take a while), chat with the others in line with you (again, a very friendly place) and get other opinions.
Back in '02, the last time the Significant Other and I were in NYC, we were waiting in line to get tickets to
Cabaret at Studio 54, and we had a delightful conversation with a businesswoman from Thailand. Her name, and I swear to God I'm not making this up, was "Wannaporn". She was buying tickets for herself and some other Thai ladies, and asked for a recommendation for non-English speakers. After some thought, we determined that
42nd Street would probably be the best choice. In any case, Micheal and I got our
Cabaret tix, and went off to sightsee, spend altogether too much money at Footlight Records, and have dinner.
Later that night, when Michael and I had found our seats in Studio 54, right next to me sits Wannaporn and her three Thai companions. We have a nice little chat before the show, and as it opens, and the first number is being sung, Wannaporn leans over to me and, very politely, tells me that she can't understand what the emcee is singing. "It's in German," I said, "It's set in Germany. Don't worry about it."
"Is the whole show in German?" she asked. I assured her it wasn't.
There was quite a lot of risque doings in this production, and even though most of the Thai ladies didn't understand English, they did understand, and quite enjoy, these unseemly goings-on. After a while, a Nazi Swastika armband gets revealed, and I have to explain to her that the play takes place
during WWII.
I didn't mind her interruptions, to be honest. It really wasn't all that good a show anyway, and besides, I wanted to give Wannaporn the impression that Americans are nice folks. But she really should've seen
42nd Street, instead. Lots of singing, dancing, and good old-fashioned Broadway razzle-dazzle.