Must Read Plays?

#1

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/17/11 at 5:51pm

I recently got more into plays after so many years of an interest in just musicals. I recently read AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY and was wondering, what are some other plays I have to read?

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''With the number of people I ignore, I'm lucky I work at all in this town'' - Helena Bonham Carter

#2

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/17/11 at 5:53pm

Peer Gynt and The Visit are two of my favorites.

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When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

#3

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/17/11 at 5:57pm

OUR TOWN

#4

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/17/11 at 5:58pm

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

#5

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/17/11 at 5:59pm

A few off the top of my head -

THE CRUCIBLE
OUR TOWN
THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE
SIDE MAN
THE PILLOWMAN
STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
LONG DAYS JOURNEY INTO NIGHT
PROOF
COME BACK TO THE FIVE AND DIME, JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN
THE GLASS MENAGERIE
THE ROYAL FAMILY
DEATH AND THE MAIDEN
KILLER JOE
DEATH OF A SALESMAN
'NIGHT MOTHER
TIME STANDS STILL
ALL MY SONS
WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF
THE SHAPE OF THINGS
SPEED THE PLOW
NEXT FALL
THE MERCY SEAT
FIFTH OF JULY
BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS
EXIT THE KING
FENCES
HEDDA GABLER
THREE SISTERS
CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF

#6

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/17/11 at 6:00pm

Some essentials:
Streetcar Named Desire
Death of a Salesman
The Cherry Orchard
A Doll's House
Our Town
Tartuffe
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Angels in America

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"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

#7

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/17/11 at 6:02pm

Jordan, you left out STAR-SPANGLED GIRL.

#8

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/17/11 at 6:02pm

THE GOAT or Who Is Sylvia? By Edward Albee

#9

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/17/11 at 6:03pm

Reg, I'm sure I left out a LOT.

#10

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/17/11 at 6:06pm

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone :)
Out of interest, what do people think of August Osage County?

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''With the number of people I ignore, I'm lucky I work at all in this town'' - Helena Bonham Carter

#11

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/17/11 at 6:08pm

I thought it was an exceptional play.

#12

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/17/11 at 6:08pm

I believe it's generally thought to be one of the best plays of the decade.

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"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

#13

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/17/11 at 6:11pm

The same playwright wrote KILLER JOE (which I included in my list) and if you don't mind something incredibly dark, I'd really suggest reading it. A film version with Matthew Mcconaughey and Gina Gershon will be out this year and I'm beyond excited to see it.

#14

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/17/11 at 6:13pm

Not that you said you wanted something similar, but if you particularly liked OSAGE, I think you'll particularly like WHO'S AFRAID OF VA. WOOLF.

#15

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/17/11 at 6:13pm

I'd add my fave, if awfully produced, Tennessee Williams play, Orpheus Descending to the list. As well as Caryl Churchill's Cloud Nine which was the best theatre acting experience I ever had.

#16

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/17/11 at 6:15pm

I've never read CLOUD NINE, Eric. I don't think I've actually ever heard of it....

#17

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/17/11 at 6:20pm

Definitely Angels in America, and a lot of the others listed above. I'd add Lost in Yonkers and Doubt to that list.

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"Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos."-Stephen Sondheim

#18

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/17/11 at 6:27pm

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

#19

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/17/11 at 6:53pm

A little Shaw shout out:

MRS WARREN'S PROFESSION

MAJOR BARBARA

PYGMALION

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Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. - Eleanor Roosevelt

#20

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/17/11 at 7:50pm

I would recommend some of Horten Foote's plays.

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If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#21

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/18/11 at 12:46am

Equus

#22

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/18/11 at 1:40am

'Night Mother and Extremities are two very powerful plays.


August is one helluva good play.

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If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

#23

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/18/11 at 1:47am

When I saw THE GOAT in Los Angeles a few years ago, I left thinking that it was the best non musical play I'd ever seen.

Did anyone have this experience with the NY production?

#24

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/18/11 at 1:59am

Two of my absolute favorites:

DANCING AT LUGHNASA by Brian Friel
DOUBT by John Patrick Shanley

I also agree that if you like AUGUST, you will love WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?

#25

Must Read Plays?

Posted: 6/18/11 at 12:16pm

An Inspector Calls
Cloudstreet
The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?
God of Carnage

I thought August: Osage County was...okay. To me, it was overly long and by the third act, became the kitchen sink of family dysfunction. by the time it ended, the barrage of bombs being dropped desensitized me and I was weary with the tedium.

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"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian