The offbeat new musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, starring Jefferson Mays and based on the classic British film comedy "Kind Hearts and Coronets," began previews this week at the Walter Kerr. Box-office collections stood at 43% of the potential, and houses were 82% full.

Also beginning previews was the new Lincoln Center Theater revival of Macbeth, directed by Jack O'Brien and starring Ethan Hawke. Over three previews, the nonprofit production played to 86% capacity and won 53% of its possible box-office take.

Over two previews only at the Cort Theatre, the double bill of Beckett's Waiting for Godot and Pinter's No Man's Land, starring Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, had a good initial showing. Houses were packed to the point of 93%, and box office didn't lag far behind, landing at 85% potential. Average ticket prices were a more-than-respectable $102.

Mark Rylance's Shakespeare double bill of Twelfth Night and Richard III, which got off to a strong start at the Belasco Theatre last week, did slightly better this week, with performances running to 97% capacity crowds. After Midnight, the new musical still in previews at the Brooks Atkinson, also continued to perform well, filling 93% of its seats.

Mamma Mia! didn't post numbers for the first time since it opened in New York, as it has left the Winter Garden Theatre. It will resume shows at the Broadhurst Nov. 2. Despite its absence, the number of shows playing on Broadway this week rose from 28 to 30. Shows that played to full capacity this week included The Glass Menagerie, The Book of Mormon, Betrayal and Kinky Boots.