What's on your best/worst of 2009 list?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 2:55pm

I'm still compiling mine and didn't see a thread with everyone's list for the best/worst shows/performances of 2009. Did I miss it?

What's on your list(s)?

[tking001]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 2:56pm

Worst
Toxic Avenger (I know it was off broadway but it was pretty bad)
Shrek

Best
Hair
Next to Normal
Rock of ages (Just so much FUN)

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 3:09pm

I'm still compiling. I have yet to see FELA, RAGTIME, EMPEROR JONES and NIGHT MUSIC. Thus far, the only one on that list I have tickets to is RAGTIME.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 3:09pm

I'm just going to list my worst, which is a three way tie between HEDDA GABLER, MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA, and THE PHILANTHROPIST.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 3:13pm

I'd like to add MOTHER, with Buck Henry and Holland Taylor, to that list.

[Calvin]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 3:24pm

Exit the King, Norman Conquests, Ruined and Joe Turner make my best list.

The Philanthropist was definitely the most painful thing I sat through this year, followed closely by Guys & Dolls (I actually disliked Memphis and Rock of Ages more than G&D, but I'll name it over them because it was a production that ruined a show I loved; the other two I probably wouldn't enjoy in any context).

[Elke]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 3:26pm

I'm not seeing any more shows this year, so this is my final list...

BEST MUSICAL: Next To Normal / Ragtime
BEST PLAY: Speed-The-Plow / A Steady Rain

WORST MUSICAL: Pal Joey
WORST PLAY: The Philanthropist (actually, Pal Joey was a masterpiece compared to this one)

Other shows that I enjoyed very much were (and I'm not kidding) The Story Of My Life and Memphis. Best special event was Alan Cumming's I Bought A Blue Car Today. Hands down.

[mybigsplash]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 3:40pm

Best: A Little Night Music, Next to Normal, The Toxic Avenger.
Worst: Ragtime, Laura Beananti in 'In The Next Room'. 'Vote' at Fringe.

[Sauja]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 12:02am

It was such a great year for plays, I thought, especially off-Broadway: The Brother/Sister Plays, The Lily's Revenge, Next Fall, Ruined, Circle Mirror Transformation, Joe Turner, Waiting for Godot, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Our Town were particular delights.
In terms of musicals, I'd give it up for: Next to Normal, Fela, and Ragtime

And you know, I never would have guessed it could have happened, but Our Town was my favorite theater experience of the year. My favorite cast of the year was the genius ensemble of Circle Mirror Transformation. And my two favorite performances of the year were Bill Irwin and the inimitable Alice Ripley.

Worst show: For most of the year, I would have expected Guys and Dolls to have this in the bag since I thought it was the worst thing I had seen in years. Then I saw Imelda.

Have tickets to see before the 31st: Superior Donuts, Brief Encounter, A Little Night Music

[defygravity24]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 12:04am

I loved Shrek and Next to Normal

[After Eight]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 12:18am

Best: Devil Boys from Beyond (Fringe Festival); Orphans Cycle; Chasing Manet; Perfect Wedding

Worst: Becky Shaw; Wildflowers; The Starry Messenger; Impressionism; Circle Mirror Transformations; Next Fall; Gingerbread House; Happiness; This

[strummergirl]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 12:23am

Best: Billy Elliot

Worst: revival of Guys & Dolls- I haven't seen a high school production screw that one up that badly.

Two shows I traveled down to see, BE in comparison to my entire body of work was not at the top but I wished I overpaid to see it again while sitting through G & D.

National tours I had much better luck:

Best- Avenue Q, Sweeney Todd, The Color Purple and The 39 Steps
Worst- Mamma Mia!
-I don't hate the show and I thought the movie had moments but no masterpiece by any means, it was just that none of the performers except Donna stood out.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 9:50am

I'm assuming this is new shows.

Best:
Ragtime
Hair
The Norman Conquests
Brighton Beach Memoirs

Worst:
Bye Bye Birdie
Burn The Floor
Exit The King

[bandit964]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 1:56pm

best: Fela!

worst: Hedda Gabler

[darquegk]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 2:29pm

If we're talking only completely new shows for 2008, not counting transfers and revivals...

I've gotta give this one to Very Potter. If any show has replaced [tos] in its peculiar niche, it's gotta be Potter.

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 3:19pm

Best: Hair, Ragtime, Next to Normal, Brighten Beach, Blithe Spirit, and although it wasn't on Broadway I really enjoyed Twelfth Night in the Park

Worst: Birdie, Guys & Dolls, Hedda Gabler, & Fela! (sorry, not my thing)

Updated On: 12/12/09 at 03:19 PM

[wdwfreak]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 3:23pm

Best: WSS, Shrek, Next to Normal, After Miss Julie
Worst: Exit the King (found it rather boring.)

[scaryclowns2232]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 3:31pm

Just a couple selections that come to mind:

BEST
Twelfth Night in the Park
The Norman Conquests
Ruined
Circle Mirror Transformation
Hair
In the Next Room
A Steady Rain
Mary Stuart


WORST
Two Unrelated Plays by David Mamet

I think the two Mamet plays are the only thing I've seen this year that stuck out as inordinately bad. Sure, I've seen mediocre (The Retributionists, Finian's Rainbow, Oleanna), but the Mamet plays are the only thing I've seen (and granted, I haven't seen everything) that I really truly despised.

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 4:47pm

Best - The Norman Conquests
Worst - Brighton Beach Memoirs

[wdwfreak]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 6:36pm

Oh, I forgot one thing on my list:
Worst- Faith Prince as Ursula
(I don't know how I sat through her performance 3 times, but I survived.)

[trombonist]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 7:47pm

I'm going with things I saw this year, regardless of when they opened and regardless of Broadway/off-Broadway/festival status.

Best
Max Understood
next to normal
South Pacific
Everyday Rapture
Dirty Blonde @ Signature in DC

Worst
Vanities
Emily: An Amethyst Remembrance
Rated RSO
Wildflower

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 8:00pm

Best:

Ruined

The Norman Conquests Trilogy

Worst:

West Side Story

[legally_popular]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 1:58am

All my 2009 shows categorized as either "best," "worst," or "middle of the road."

Best:
Next to Normal
Happiness
The Understudy
After Miss Julie

Middle:
9 to 5
Hair
West Side Story
Ordinary Days
Hamlet
Blithe Spirit
In the Next Room

Worst:
Music in the Air
Guys and Dolls
Bye Bye Birdie
Why Torture is Wrong…

[moowithme85]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 11:57am

Best: Next To Normal
Worst: 9 to 5

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 11:05pm

best: Hamlet

worst: dead even tie between West Side Story and After Miss Julie (I'm sorry Jonny Lee but you're still my boo)