Favorite Plays?

[RoniK2]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 10:54am

While I find most people to be much more knowledgeable and excited about musicals, I've read/seen some straight plays lately and they're really entertaining! Boeing Boeing is the most recent one I've enjoyed :)

What are your favorite straight plays that you've either seen or read at some point?

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 10:59am

Hir by Taylor Mac

Mr. Burns by Anne Washburn

The Flick by Annie Baker

Waverly Gallery by Kenneth Lonergan

A Doll's House Part  by Lucas Hnath

[astorian_ofthe_heart]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 11:07am

I have to say, I'll usually enjoy a play before I enjoy a musical. Some of my favorites that I can think of right now:

The Lifespan of a Fact by Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell, & Gordon Farrell - I remember seeing this and being totally blown away by the language in the script. It reminds me of Kushner, the way the monologues just weave in and out of each other. Speaking of --

Angels in America by Tony Kushner - Duh. The Marianne Elliot production will forever stick out for me. Nathan Lane as Roy Cohn...iconic.

Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Simon Stephens - This one is interesting because reading it, it feels more like a Sarah Ruhl play, the way the dialogue feels more like poetry than prose. And the Broadway production felt more like a musical, you know? It was very melodic, even without having actual songs.

Lysistrata by Aristophanes - I re-read this recently and it will forever be my favorite Greek play. A bunch of women wanting to end a war, and they realize the way they can do it is by withholding sex from their husbands. It's a comedy with a strong message of women taking back their power. Written 1500 years ago. PREACH Arisophanes.

The Ferryman by Jez Butterworth - I was absolutely struck by this play. I'm not a fan of Butterworth's writing usually, but wow. This was such an effective use of characters and premise. Textbook scriptwriting 101.

The Cake by Bekah Brunstetter - I'm very biased because Bekah is easily my favorite author lately but this is truly an amazing play. The MCC production was good, but I'm really excited to see other productions of this, possibly a movie. The subject matter is so close to my heart, and every time I read it, I just fall in love with it all over again.

Okay I'm rambling lol I see so many plays. I'll stop now.

Updated On: 6/28/19 at 11:07 AM

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 11:07am

The Iceman Cometh by Eugene O'Neill

August: Osage County by Tracy Letts

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe

If I Forget by Steven Levenson

Gloria and Appropriate, both by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

Red Speedo by Lucas Hnath

Good People by David Lindsay-Abaire

Indecent by Paula Vogel

In the Next Room by Sarah Ruhl

Fences by August Wilson

Yellowface by David Henry Hwang

Blackbird by David Harrower

Downstate by Bruce Norris

The Kentucky Cycle by Robert Schenkkan

American Buffalo by David Mamet

Harvey by Mary Chase

Updated On: 7/22/19 at 11:07 AM

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 11:13am

The Ferryman. Im a bit newer to the straight play scene (although have learned I enjoy them MUCH more than musicals) but man its going to be hard to find a show to make me feel shocked in the best way possible. I was so beyond satisfied with that show, I wish I could catch it on Broadway again. 

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 11:28am

Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Simon Stephens

Mr. Burns by Anne Washburn

Zoo Story/Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf by Edward Albee (I had to do Zoo Story for an acting class and then do a project behind the playwright, and I got to really appreciate his work through that)

Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks (I've only read this, but it was a very intriguing read. I hope this goes off-Broadway again soon so I can see it)

One play I wouldn't put as my favorite, but I have been thinking about it ever since I saw it was Gary. For all his flaws, Mac's writing is outstanding and like Topdog/Underdog, it's probably also a great read)

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 12:29pm

I love it when people want to talk about straight plays on this board!

My favorite play is probably Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee. A close second is The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh (his Beauty Queen of Leenane is also brilliant). The original A Doll's House is also one of my favorites (I have the script to Part 2 on my desk and need to finally read it).

The others posters mentioned above are also all very acclaimed plays. August: Osage County is easily one of the best plays written so far this century. Jesus Hopped the A Train by Stephen Adly Guirgis is also beautiful and brilliant. Although perhaps her work hasn't aged well, Rebecca Gillman wrote some wonderful plays in the 1990's and early 2000's, particularly Spinning Into Butter and The Glory of Living.

[ilysespieces]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 12:36pm

Of plays that I've seen performed, I do agree that Boeing Boeing is a great one. I also absolutely loved Equus and Hedda Gabbler, both kept me entranced the entire performance. Recently, I can also say that about The Ferryman and Yerma.

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 12:42pm

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Equus

The Boys in the Band

I'm in the minority here, but I did not particularly enjoy The Ferryman. I thought it took an unnecessarily long time to make its point.

[AllThatJazz2]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 12:45pm

Angels in America, Three Tall Women, The Boys in the Band, and The Ferryman are some that really grabbed me - Ferryman so much so that my friend and I made a second trip to NYC specifically to see it again.

I hadn't seen many plays prior to 2017 (I'm also one of those people more prone to musicals), but have been making a conscious effort to see more. I also saw a local production of The Wolves in Boston that was really well done. 

[Luscious]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 1:08pm

A Streetcar Named Desire

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

The Boys in The Band

Equus

Angels in America

 

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 3:14pm

As far as older plays go, I like Macbeth, Ghosts, An Enemy of the People, A Doll's House, and The Oresteia.

[hairspraydude1962]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 4:00pm

MACBETH (all-time favorite)

THE WAVERLY GALLERY

THE NORMAL HEART

"MASTER HAROLD" ...AND THE BOYS

THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA?

ANGELS IN AMERICA

THE LARAMIE PROJECT

RUMORS

THE PILLOWMAN

CLYBOURNE PARK

[Impossible2]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 4:13pm

Medea

The Father

Amy and the Orphans

The Humans

Rutherford and Sons

The Crucible

Sweat

Curious Incident

Streetcar

Virginia Woolf

View From the Bridge

Constellations

 

 

 

 

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 4:34pm

Of all time? Rumors. We’re so overdue for a revival and there’s so many people who would be wonderful in it.

 

Some other favorites include:

-August: Osage County

-Death of a Salesman

-Noises Off

-The Flick

-Lost in Yonkers

-Angels in America

-Clybourne Park

-Picnic

-The Piano Lesson

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 4:41pm

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

ANTIGONE (Anouilh adaptation)

M. BUTTERFLY

MOTHER COURAGE

EDWARD II (Marlowe)

Honorable Mention: ATSUMORI (by Zeami (Japanese noh drama, which are arguably closer to opera than what we would call a straight play))

I'm going to stop here, because this could go on and on, but my second five would certainly include plays by August Wilson, Arthur Miller, Henrik Ibsen and Racine.

Updated On: 6/28/19 at 04:41 PM

[Becky]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 9:30pm

The Pillowman
The Normal Heart
Noises Off

[AADA81]

Posted: 6/29/19 at 8:01pm

Cyrano de Bergerac

Long Day's Journey Into Night

A Moon For the Misbegotten

A View From the Bridge

A Cry of Players

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Marat/Sade

The River Niger

Six Degrees of Separation

Angels in America (both)

Topdog/Underdog

The Pillowman

 

Those are the ones that come to mind right now.

 

[openstage2]

Posted: 6/29/19 at 8:09pm

I agree with many of the titles mentioned above, and I’ll add a very dark comedy, The House Of Blue Leaves by John Guare. Heartbreaking and beautiful. The revival featuring John Mahoney, Swoozie Kurtz, Christine Baranski, and Ben Stiller was out of this world.

[goodlead]

Posted: 6/30/19 at 6:40pm

I think the Blue Leaves cast included Stockard Channing instead of Christine Baranski -- or at least it did when I saw it.

[sppunk]

Posted: 6/30/19 at 6:47pm

My all-time favorite is God of Carnage. I think it’s a brilliant look into social dynamics. 

Other tip-top plays include:

Glass Menagerie

Ferryman

Sweat

Bear

View From A Bridge

i have never seen Rumors or Pillowman - I’ve only been able to be close to NY for 11 years. I’d love either to be revived.

[Um Kulthum]

Posted: 7/1/19 at 5:35pm

My all-time favorite would probably be The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde.

Others include:

Or, by Liz Duffy Adams

An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestly (saw an excellent production in DC this winter)

Indecent by Paula Vogel

King Charles III by Mike Bartlett 

Pericles and As You Like It, both Shakespeare

The Plough and the Stars & Shadow of a Gunman & Juno and the Paycock by Sean O'Casey (did anyone see the Irish Rep's production of these three this spring? They were fantastic!)