Posted: 6/28/19 at 10:54am
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
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
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
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!)
