Best and worst of the Manhattan Theatre Club

[Fantod]

Posted: 12/1/14 at 7:09pm

What was the best play you saw at the Manhattan Theatre Club (either on or off-Broadway)? The worst?

[After Eight]

Posted: 12/1/14 at 7:28pm

The best I saw was (were) House and Garden.

The bad ones were so numerous that it's hard to select the worst.



Updated On: 12/1/14 at 07:28 PM

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 12/1/14 at 8:38pm

I feel like a good majority of the plays that MTC producers are extraordinary

Off the top of my head
Time Stands Still
Good People
The Royal Family
The Country House
The Other Place

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 12/1/14 at 8:46pm

I don't think that I've seen a bad production/show of theirs yet. I really loved the play Rabbit Hole. However, the set for that play was by far one of the best sets I have seen from a show, play or musical. I just loved how it moved around from scene to scene the way it did.

And, After Eight, after reading several of your posts where you lament theatre in its current state. I must ask you. Why do you still attended if you know that odds are high that you're not going to walk away having enjoyed your time? You know how a kid realizes what hot is by touching something hot and then making the mental connection that they shouldn't do it again? Well for you, I feel that it's the opposite. You know that you're going to get burned every time, and yet, you still go for it.

[Melissa25]

Posted: 12/1/14 at 9:41pm

The best includes:
Doubt
Reckless
Time Stands Still
Venus in Fur

The one MTC production that was such a let-down was the musical "Romantic Poetry" by John Patrick Shanley and Henry Krieger. At least I got to see Patina Renea Miller in it. Pre-"Sister Act" fame.

[little_sally]

Posted: 12/1/14 at 9:54pm

Best:
The Explorer's Club
Time Stands Still
Casa Valentina

Worst:
Tales From Red Vienna
Accent on Youth

[theatreguy]

Posted: 12/1/14 at 10:02pm

Best:
Good People
Proof
Ruined

Worst:
To Be Or Not To Be

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 12/2/14 at 9:22am

Best- Murder Ballad
Worst- Tales from Red Vienna

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 12/2/14 at 10:18am

I'm curious, what was Tales From Red Vienna about and what were its problems?

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 12/2/14 at 10:40am

It was exhaustingly bad. http://www.didhelikeit.com/shows/tales-from-red-vienna-reviews.html

[Sauja]

Posted: 12/2/14 at 12:07pm

I've loved a lot of their shows: Good People, The American Plan, Doubt, and Casa Valentina among them. I still think the latter was woefully underrated. But nothing that they've done (and I've seen) has come close to topping the sheer beauty and devastating emotion of Ruined.

In terms of the worst, We Live Here was pretty bad. And I personally really, really disliked The Country House.

[Patash]

Posted: 12/2/14 at 4:36pm

What? Is no one going to mention The Snow Geese as the worst?

[Melissa25]

Posted: 12/2/14 at 5:25pm

"Tales of Red Vienna" was bad but I loved Nina Arianda and Michael Esper. Tina Benko and Kathleen Chalfant were also very good in their supporting roles.

And I thought the poster was one of the best all year.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/2/14 at 5:31pm

Patash

I am with you on The Snow Geese. I almost fell asleep seeing this. The best part was the projections of the geese seeming to fly out of the theater. They were the smart one. The SNow Geese was a real snorefest and a bigger turkey than the one in the Thanksgiving Day Parade

Best

Country House
Casa Valentina
Doubt
The Explorers Club
The Royal Family

[jnb9872]

Posted: 12/2/14 at 6:13pm

I just plain forgot about THE SNOW GEESE, and it was only a year ago.

GOOD PEOPLE was easily my favorite production of theirs recently, though I quite enjoyed OUTSIDE MULLINGAR and was impressed with THE OTHER PLACE and AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE.

ETA: I completely forgot about VENUS IN FUR and TIME STANDS STILL, which I saw after they transferred. I was just thinking about the Friedman, as I haven't seen any of their City Center productions. I've greatly enjoyed the majority of what I've seen of theirs.

Updated On: 12/2/14 at 06:13 PM

[Robbie2]

Posted: 12/2/14 at 6:39pm

Best:
Doubt
Proof
Rabbit Hole
Venus in Fur

Worst:
Tales from Red Vienna

[CurtainsUpat8]

Posted: 12/2/14 at 9:09pm

I think I am the only person in NYC who thought The Snow Geese was a lovely, understated night in the theatre. And the set was beautiful.

[LarryD2]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 10:00am

Best
Proof
Rabbit Hole
Good People
Translations
The Assembled Parties
Wit
Top Girls
Back Back Back

Worst
After the Night and the Music
Drowning Crow
Absurd Person Singular
To Be or Not To Be
When We Were Young and Unafraid
Lost Lake
Close Up Space

Updated On: 12/3/14 at 10:00 AM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 10:06am

Totally disagree with When We Were Young.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 10:09am

TO BE OR NOT TO BE has to be the hands down winner for worst. I recall at intermission an elderly gentleman stand up, rip his playbill in half, toss it in the air, and putter up the aisle muttering "What a waste of time."

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 10:11am

Some of my favorites:

Venus in Fur
Top Girls
Wit
Ruined
Good People
Casa Valentina
The Explorers Club
The Other Place
Time Stands Still
Master Class

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 3:02pm

Surprised no one has mentioned THE WILD PARTY (Andrew Lippa's version). That was wonderful.

That John Patrick Shanley musical was indeed dreadful.