Best Play thoughts?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/4/10 at 11:04pm

Any early ideas on what will win? For some reason, this category really interests me this year.

With ENRON (which was, in my mind considered the front-runner from the day it was announced) splitting the critics, not getting nominated, and closing this week, what do you guys think will win?

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 5/4/10 at 11:06pm

RED

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/4/10 at 11:07pm

I liked Next Fall and Vibrator the best. I would choose Next Fall. But I have a feeling it will be Red.

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 5/4/10 at 11:10pm

Truth be told, I'd be ok with anything winning other than NEXT FALL (sorry rOcKS!). I did like IN THE NEXT ROOM and TIME STANDS STILL quite a bit (the former more than the latter).

[sundayclothes2]

Posted: 5/4/10 at 11:12pm

Red

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/4/10 at 11:14pm

Of the nominees, I would choose Next Fall. My favorite play of the season was Enron, however.

However, I think the winner will be the snooze fest, Red.

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 5/4/10 at 11:16pm

It seriously baffles me how anyone could like the inane simplicity of NEXT FALL more than the smart and searing drama of RED. But I digress, to each his own and that's not the point of the thread anyways.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/4/10 at 11:19pm

I thought RED was mostly a pretentious bore with only one interesting scene. NEXT FALL was a moving experience for me. So yes, to each his own!

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 5/4/10 at 11:21pm

At least we can agree on MEMPHIS (I just read your signature LMAO).

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/4/10 at 11:23pm

LOL. Glad you like!

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/4/10 at 11:45pm

Honestly, I think it's between Vibrator Play, Next Fall, and Red at this point (even though I adore Time Stands Still). It's probably going to go to something that's open, but it could go to Ruhl since she was a Pulitzer finalist and a critics darling. I feel like the Best Play award always goes to something that has a really strong dramatic hook. Talky plays typically don't win. Look at the past few: God of Carnage, August: Osage County, Coast of Utopia, The History Boys, Doubt. Even the talky ones (Coast of Utopia, History Boys, Doubt) have a dramatic hook that really grabs at the audience and, presumably, the voters. For that reason I would think a play like Red wouldn't win. But who knows. I still think Next Fall gets it, but I think it's really a toss up at this point.

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 5/4/10 at 11:47pm

As long as it's not the, imo, inane NEXT FALL, i'll be happy

[willep]

Posted: 5/4/10 at 11:52pm

I'm rooting for RED, personally.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/5/10 at 12:13am

I think Next Fall will win. Watch out for Elton John parading around the circuits.

~Steven

[Heng]

Posted: 5/5/10 at 12:18am

Fela is excellent but it is not for everyone but the play will be difficult Red will win.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/5/10 at 12:20am

What does FELA have to do with this topic?

[theatreguy]

Posted: 5/5/10 at 12:24am

Based on reviews, box office, etc. I would say Red will take it. Historically, though, it seems that the only time limited-run plays (like Red) win is when they're a big "event" like The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby or The Coast of Utopia. Since Red doesn't seem to fit in that category, and since there's been no mention of an extension, I wouldn't be completely surprised if Next Fall managed to take it.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/5/10 at 12:26am

Of the four, Next Fall received the least enthusiastic reviews, according to Stage Grade. However, Red is the most noteworthy for being not only lauded but the most financially successful of the four. In The Next Room has the Pulitzer finalist thing going for it, while Time Stands Still is topical.

Honestly, it could go to any of the four and I don't think I'd care any less. Of the four, I enjoyed In the Next Room the best.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan]

Posted: 5/5/10 at 12:27am

screw it...i dont care if it's closed...TIME STANDS STILL was the best play of the season imo, and am thrilled it was remembered.

RED put me to sleep, and was more of a college classroom history lesson than a well told play.

NEXT FALL was amateurish writing at best and felt like a 1980s movie of the week or after school special...not even a lifetime 2010 movie of the week.

IN THE NEXT ROOM, OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY would be my runner up after TIME STANDS STILL, but I do think TSS was the best written play of the season and think its high time that Donald Margulies, one of our best current living playwrights is honored with a TONY award.

JMO.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/5/10 at 12:28am

I think the only nominee we can count out is IN THE NEXT ROOM. And, IMO, rightfully so. I was not a fan.

And I bet they'll want to give it to something still running, which is sad for the excellent TIME STANDS STILL, so I think it'll be between RED & NEXT FALL as well. And I think we all know who I'd vote for.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/5/10 at 12:30am

Best Play is usually given to the most commercially viable choice, so I'd put my money on Red.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan]

Posted: 5/5/10 at 12:43am

Commercially viable does NOT equal RED. Sorry, how on earth is that commercially viable? The only reason it even made it to Broadway is because of Molina's performance. Had it not be for that performance, we probably would never have seen the play. It's not exactly a play that will do well touring the country in these huge barns they like to through plays in, in Peoria and Pittsburgh. NEXT FALL would get shut down in some cities across this country, like it or not.

TIME STANDS STILL, imo, is the perfect college & community theatre play. One set, 4 actors, and a great script with solid storytelling.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/5/10 at 1:59am

I don't know. I think NEXT FAll might win. I mean, it's written by an American, and I don't know, but I feel like that has some sort of clout. Maybe not, but it just seems like something that would grab voters more than RED, even though it's a more financially successful show. And IN THE NEXT ROOM didn't really do well, so it might be all but forgotten.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 5/5/10 at 2:05am

LaCageFan, as someone from Pittsburgh, I'd like to just let you know that we have more than just the three barns. There are a lot of small, local companies that perform in small blackboxes or found spaces that would probably be very happy to do a production of RED. Sorry, local pride appearing.

And, my vote goes to RED. I think it's well written, well directed, and well acted. What more can you want? If Sarah Ruhl wins, great, but VIBRATOR PLAY is definitely not her best work to date, though the production was nicely done.

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 5/5/10 at 2:08am

I think Red should win, but Next Fall will win. I just can't see them voting for a show that has closed (no matter how wonderful the production was).