Which plays would you recommend buying?

[bigbigbill]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 6:50pm

I want to buy some plays with the money I got from Christmas. Which would you recommend buying? I recently bought The History Boys, Rabbit Hole, Spring Awakening and Twelve Angry Men. I am going to buy Pillowman and Lieutenant of Inishmore when I go to NYC Wednesday. I was thinking of Shining City, Proof, Frozen, or Doubt. Can anyone recommend any of these? If not, which ones are worth purchasing? Thanks.
Updated On: 12/25/06 at 06:50 PM

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 6:57pm

I can definitely recommend Doubt. I read it. I was hooked the minute I read the first word. It'll definitely get you thinking.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 7:40pm

"Proof" is an interesting read. I just bought "Company" and "Follies" because I know the music but not the book in each case.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 8:01pm

If I were looking for a good read, I'd think a little further afield myself: plays that I doubt would ever be performed again but still have great literary or theatrical heritage. A well-made play that's fun to read? HOTEL PARADISO or A FLEA IN HER EAR by Feydeau. A play to make you think a bit? Look for the Mermaid collection of Giraudoux's works -- ONDINE, MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT, and APPOLLO OF BELLAC. A playwright whose stage directions will make you *see* the play? Anything by Tennessee Williams. There's a lot out there; dont restrict yourself to titles you have a passing acquaintance with.

[Heybeenfood]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 8:05pm

I just finsihed rereading Six Degrees of Separation by John Guare. I just remembered how enjoyable it is. It is a great read.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 8:11pm

"Fat Pig" by Neil LaBute - probably one of my favorite plays for its subtle humor.

"Angels in America" because it's brillant and epic.

Why not try some classics? Anything by Tennesee Williams, etc.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 8:13pm

Three Days of Rain by Richard Greenberg
The Man Who Came to Dinner by Kaufman and Hart
Private Lives by Noel Coward
This is How It Goes by Neil LaBute
The Shape of Things by Neil LaBute

Festen makes a much better read than it did a show (probably based on the American cast).

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 8:17pm

I always think The Laramie Project is a good one...especially if you ever need monolouges.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 8:39pm

I always enjoy reading The Glass Menagerie, you can always find something new in Williams' beautiful language.
And not to sound old-fashioned but my favorite plays to read are Shakespeare's plays; as a matter of fact, I can grasp and enjoy a Shakespearean play much better when I read it than when I see it performed on stage.
Other suggestions: The House of Bernarda Alba (actually Lorca's drama trilogy is a must-have), Angels in America, Frozen, Doubt, and Anna in the Tropics.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 8:47pm

I love the play Lilliom (Carousel was based on that)by Ferenc Molnar.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 9:11pm

Years ago I read The Rehearsal by Jean Anouih (sp??) and I thought it was charming. Oh, and Cyrano de Bergerac is a lovely read.

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 9:14pm

There are so many great American playwrights, it's hard to know where to begin. Here is a short list of suggestions for further research in no particular order and for no particular reason -- they were just the authors & plays I thought of at the moment. (I looked up the dates, but can't vouch for 100% accuracy.)

Eugene O'Neill
Long Day’s Journey into Night (956)
The Iceman Cometh (1946)

Arthur Miller
The Crucible (1953)
Death of a Salesman (1949)

August Wilson
Joe Turner's Come and Gone (1984)
The Piano Lesson (1989)

Edward Albee
The Zoo Story (1958 )
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1961)

Lillian Helman
The Children's Hour (1934)
The Little Foxes (1939)

Beth Henley
Crimes of the Heart (1979)
The Miss Firecracker Contest (1984)

Depending on how much you like reading plays, an anthology such as they use in Freshman college literature or drama courses might be interesting (and cost-effective). Unless that feels too much like school!

Updated On: 12/25/06 at 09:14 PM

[bigbigbill]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 10:12pm

Thanks everyone! This is very helpful!

[D2]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 10:16pm

Les Liaisons Dangereuses, by Christopher Hampton.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 10:19pm

I would definately recommend an anthology of a writer, such as Tennessee Williams - it's pocket friendly and you can learn a lot about that writer.

Also, check out the thread I made the other day called "Your Favorite Plays to Read / Study."

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 10:32pm

I strongly recommend anything by Neil Simon or Terrence McNally.

Here are some very good ones:
Dedication or the Stuff of Dreams (FANTASTIC! By Terrence McNally)
The Odd Couple
Jeffery
Doubt
The Sunshine Boys
Torch Song Trilogy
Love! Valour! Compassion!
The Man Who Came to Dinner
and Take Me Out.

All are great but the #1 you NEED to get is Dedication or The Stuff of Dreams.

Updated On: 12/26/06 at 10:32 PM

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 11:20pm

Just wanted to add my 2 cents about Doubt...

Read it in "real time," meaning, read the play as if it's a performance, with the characters in mind, it helps you get the play's effect!

The Crucible is great to read (I actually yell and cuss at the script whenever I read it because I get so pissed off at the stupidity of the characters...I know, sounds weird, but a person of my high emotions might get why I do that...helps relieve my stress...). It's always fun to see how ignorant people can be....it's also important!

The Winslow Boy

Amadeus is a great read as well.

Updated On: 12/25/06 at 11:20 PM

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 11:23pm

"Up The Down Staircase" is always a fun read. "The Pillowman" tops my list, without a doubt, of course. "God's Favorite" by Neil Simon isn't too shabby, either.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 11:24pm

^ Can't beleive I forgot Doubt! That's great too.

[singingshowgirl]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 11:37pm

streetcar named desire!

and my man shakespeare!

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 12/26/06 at 12:00am

Jeffery by Paul Rudnick
Gross Indecency by Moises Kaufman
Love Valour Compassion by Terrance McNally

[I'mseeingbraille57]

Posted: 12/26/06 at 12:37am

Tom Stoppard has a collection of five plays thats between 15 to 20 dollars I think and I have enjoyed reading those immensly, especially Arcadia and The Real Thing.

[AnythingCanHappen]

Posted: 12/26/06 at 3:28am

Its a short, fairly easy read if you can get your hands on it: The Curious Savage. My favorite play used to be Tartuffe by Moliere, but I saw The Curious Savage done recently and its a wonderful, very funny script. Nothing that would last on Broadway for ages or anything, but a delightful read and show.

And really, anything by Shakespeare. I am not finished with all of his works, by any means, but I have yet to dislike any of his shows.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/26/06 at 4:28am

Edward Albee's THE PLAY ABOUT THE BABY
Martin McDonagh's THE PILLOWMAN

They are two great reads. They both use very detailed language, and Albee's stage directions are always interesting and different to read.

[gonnapassmealaw]

Posted: 12/26/06 at 4:55am

Long Day's Journey Into Night.