BrodyFosse123 said: "Neil Simon’s THE STAR-SPANGLED GIRL
Neil Simon’s LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR
Neil Simon’s CALIFORNIA SUITE"
I have to tell you that I saw a production of California Suite five or six years ago and it was painful to sit through...has really aged badly. Also, The Star Spangled Girl was one of Neil Simon's few flops...it was really lousy. If you are interested because you never saw it, you honestly did not miss much.
To another poster inquiring as to whether Deathtrap is dated, I saw a good production at the Cape Playhouse 5 - 8 years ago, and I thought it dragged. The gay thing was not dated, because I viewed it as 'of its time'. It just was not very good. Interestingly, I saw a production of Dial M For Murder in Sarasota (at the Asolo, a first class regional theatre) and it was terrific, even though I knew it too well to be surprised and had no interest in actually seeing it) and it was terrific.
To another person who mentioned Find Your Way Home, it was not at the Biltmore (aka Friedman), but across the street at the Brooks Atkinson (aka I can't remember). It was one of the most boring nights I have ever experienced in the theatre. Michael Moriarty won the Tony against some of the fiercest competitors imaginable, but that didn't change the fact that it was an absolute slog. I forgot that Jane Alexander received a Tony nomination; she was in it for about 10 minutes toward the end of the show. I was in too much of a stupor by that time to actually remember her performance.
Thins that I would like to see revived:
1. The Pillowman. Definitely #1. The only time I saw it, I sat there continually thinking to myself that it was an unbelievably great night in the theatre...that opinion has never changed. I remember it more vividly than many other highly praised productions.
2. Strange Interlude...Definitely #2. I saw the last revival with Glenda Jackson a-- probably 40 years ago -- and it was honestly thrilling. Superlong and it flew by.
Others in no particular order:
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, but only with a great actress who is good at playing over the top, but reining it in before it goes off the rails. Zoe Caldwell was unforgettable in this, one of the truy great performances of the past 60 years.
The Philadelphia Story, but only if someone great is cast as Tracy Lord. Saw it at Lincoln Center, probay 40 years ago, and none of the three leads were right for their roles, but it was still enjoyable.
I would like to see a revival of the Andre Serban production of The Cherry Orchard. It was very special, not exactly hurt by an incredible cast.
Hay Fever. I saw this probably 40 years ago with Rosemary Harris in the lead. It was a laugh riot (year, even then a 40-or-50 year-old Tier 2 Noel Coward comedy. Again, it will only work with a great performance in the lead role of Judith Bliss.
Nicholas Nickleby, although I suspect that ticket prices would rule it out. Forty years ago, the only ticket price ($100) was 2.5 times the highest price in any other show on Broadway. With that formula today, at a minimum, there would probably be rickets priced at $1,000 and, probably a second price at $500.
Brighton Beach Memoirs. To me, this was the most entertaining of the trilogy that Neil Simon wrote.If I can't get Mame, how about a production of Auntie Mame by Roundabout? Again, need a great Mame or don't do it
The Diary of Anne Frank. I saw the last revival, which was really not good. I have to believe that the right director would turn this back into a powerful experience.
And finally, either Life With Father or Tobacco Road, at the Roundabout or MTC, to try to understand how they ran for 8 years each. I actually saw the Life With Father movie on Amazon Prime 5 or 6 years ago, and quite enjoyed it, admittedly having set the bar of expectation very low.