What's a good play for someone who sees more musicals to see right now?

[suechru]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 4:05am

I feel like I don't know much about plays. My thing is mostly musicals (as I write this I'm listening to the OBCR of Sunday in the Park with George). I don't mind plays but I don't have a lot of experience with them - I've actually only seen one on broadway so far. (Jason Miller who wrote That Championship Season went to my undergrad so having also been educated by "the Jesuits" I felt it compelled to see this out of loyalty.)

I'm hearing some really wonderful things both here and in the press obviously of some the current plays but I'm kind of confused where to start with what's out there. What play (on or off-broadway) is just such a wonderful performance to see (either by the play itself and/or the staging/actors) that it's something I MUST experience to really understand and branch out of my musical comfort zone? My goal here is to find something that I'd appreciate and enjoy and broaden my horizons.

For example, I've heard Stoppard plays can be a bit... intimidating for lack of a better term so should I stay away from Arcadia until I'm more of a "play" an for lack of a better term? I know there's so many different types of plays out there so I'm looking for recommendations but thinking it over, three things are important to me.

1) Emotional resonance - next to normal is one of my favorite musicals of all time. Yes, the music is part of it but the story of it is what really draws me in time and time again. I don't shy away from "difficult material" that's done in a compelling and truthful way.

2) Black/inappropriate humor is okay with me - however, I'm not sure if I'd like a more traditional comedy if it didn't have some kind of more serious undertone.

3) I'm pretty much a big nerd, which makes me think I could handle a Stoppard play eventually but I'm not sure if that would be the best show for me to jump into.

4) I understand Lombardi is supposed to be excellent but the fact that so much of the play is about football (which is not a subject that interests me is all) might be a turn off for me even if the performances are excellent

I'd love your opinions and recommendations.

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 8:36am

I had only seen musicals on Broadway until I saw "Red" last summer and I loved that. This year, I decided to try to see everything that opens this season on Broadway so that I could expose myself to some more plays as well as musicals. I've enjoyed quite a few so far and the stand-outs for me were "Good People" and "Arcadia." Some people haven't liked "Arcadia" so much, but I had never seen it and enjoyed it immensely. "Good People" was really amazing and I think it meets most of your criteria. It deals with some serious issues, but does so with plenty of humor. Give it a try, I really enjoyed it!

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 8:43am

I've pushed it before and I'll push it again. The Divine Sister, running off-Broadway, is one of the best times I've had in the theatre in recent memory. An absolutely hilarious evening with an exceptional cast. The combination of Charles Busch and Julie Halston together is priceless.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 8:54am

War Horse and Peter and the Starcatchers are both amazing plays, that conveniently enough have lots of music in them as well, since you are inclined towards that.

Starcatchers even has Celia Keenan-Bolger, Christian Borle and Next to Normal's Adam Chanler-Berat, all musical actors. It's a comedy, but it ends on a more serious note, and presents some very interesting ideas within its text. Also, it's a total blast to watch!

[thismyshow]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 10:04am

I really enjoyed Lombardi, definitely a subject you dont see alot in the world of theater.... sports, dan lauria is great as is judith light and its not a very heavy show like arcadia but is very accessible meaning if u love sports and not so much theater u will enjoy it if you love theater and not so much sport you will enjoy it

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 10:49am

THE DREAM OF THE BURNING BOY and THE MILK TRAIN DOESN'T STOP HERE ANYMORE. Both at the Roundabout.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 11:06am

War Horse is probably something you would like and it's just beautiful, but don't be intimidated by Stoppard! There's a lot of heart in his work, you just can't let it scare you and have to be willing to listen carefully.

Updated On: 3/27/11 at 11:06 AM

[wonkit]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 1:52pm

I would recommend ARCADIA. If you like the complexity of Sondheim, you should be okay with Stoppard. Stoppard can be enjoyed at many levels, so if you miss some of it, the experience can still be meaningful.

[suechru]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 2:23pm

Wow, thanks for the suggestions!

War Horse, Good People and Peter and the Starcatchers are now high on my list. I'm willing to give Arcadia/Stoppard a shot but I feel like I need to see something else first before I try it.

[tommyboy]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 4:04pm

I would encourage you to consider starting with the classics, i.e. Williams and O'Neil. Also check out local regional and university schedules as it is more likely to find a wider variety of options and the price of admission is much more affordable than Broadway. But if money is no object, and you want to stay in the Broadway scene, check out THE IMPORTANCE BEING EARNEST. Brain Bedford as Lady Bracknell is a real hoot.

P.S. You can also broaden your horizons by just reading scripts. Any public library will have a decent collection in their drama section. Or stop by the Drama Book Shop, walking distance from any Broadway theater where you can buy acting editions for under $10.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 4:07pm

I second The Dream of the Burning Boy.

Good People is also very enjoyable.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 4:16pm

I saw Good People Wednesday (which was also my first play on Broadway) and I would recommend that. It has all that you're looking for. It's a serious play with emotional resonance- I was incredibly moved- but it also has a tremendous amount of perfectly pitched dark humor. Performance wise, Frances McDormand is simply stunning. The set is amazing and it's not overly complex or intimidatingly intellectual like some plays can be. It's a very enjoyable play to see as well, and it fit well in my overwhelmingly musical-heavy trip this past week.

[thismyshow]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 6:07pm

just saw HIGH today... absolutely incredible across the board just jumped to the top of my favorite/best shows of the season

[MelissaF]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 7:35pm

For years, I had only ever seen musicals during my trips to NYC, until last month, when I saw Driving Miss Daisy, and Good People....both were wonderful!!!

[bwaynews]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 8:07pm

I'm a musical person as well so I can relate. I definitely suggest Peter & The Starcatcher. Aside from it being absolutely brilliant, I think it will be a nice show to transition you into seeing plays. It does have some music! :)

[HummingAlong]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 8:48pm

Peter and the Starcatcher at the New York Theatre Workshop seems right up your alley (if you can get a ticket!)

I would also recommend The Dream of the Burning Boy at the Roundabout Blackbox Theatre. It seems to fit your emotional resonance criteria. Also, Alexandra Socha is in it, and you might know her from Spring Awakening. Sometimes when I'm branching out to new things, I find it helps to be familiar with a performer and let them take me through a new experience. So that might help make you more comfortable. The theatre is very intimate, and tickets are inexpensive, so you're not putting much on the line to give it a try.

Have fun!

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 8:54pm

As metioned a few weeks ago, I gave up a paid ticket to Dream of the Burning Boy to see Priscilla. I wish I had seen "Dream...". I really want to see it and it has extended. I really enjoyed "The Motherf**ker With the Hat". Hasn't started previews yet but I just grabbed a ticket to see "And by the Way, Meet Vera Stark". Have to see it!

[pennydreadful]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 8:56pm

If you don't mind going out to Brooklyn, BAM has some wonderful shows! Derek Jacobi's doing Lear there.

I'm also looking forward to House of Blue Leaves, with Ben Stiller and Edie Falco - a dark comedy. And Jerusalem with Mark Rylance is about to start previews - Rylance is astonishing!