Best play you've ever seen?

[jeezifonly]

To me, Best and Favorite are such personal and situational descriptors, I’d need way more limitations than just “a play” Because I worked in theatre, I saw a LOT of plays, including many that I heard 8x/wk while working, it’s hard to narrow it down.  

Pee-in-the-pants-funny: 
Noises Off,  
Broadway, 2001

Devastatingly tragic:  
Bent, CTG, LA 2015

American Classic:   
You Can’t Take it With You, Broadway 2014

Inventive Production:   
The Curious Incident Of The Dog in the Nighttime  
Nat’l Tour 2017

Solo Performance:   
Happy Days (Dianne Wiest)    
LA 2019

GO SEE PLAYS, you guys!!!! 

 

[Manhattan]

Great list jeezifonly! 
 

i forgot how much I liked The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. 

[+ nycman]

On 11/29/2024 at 4:57 AM, jeezifonly said:

Happy Days (Dianne Wiest)    
LA 2019

I got to see her perform this at the Theatre for a New Audience in Brooklyn in 2017. One of my favorite actresses performing one of my favorite parts…."Oh, happy days!"

"Choose happiness every day, regardless of the circumstances."

[+ WilliamM]

"Legends with Carol Channing and Mary Martin 

Certainly not the best play,   but an A  plus cast

[AtticusBK]

Tossing in another vote for Angels in America w/ Andrew Garfield and Nathan Lane; but also really loved the 2010 Signature Theater off-Broadway production w Zachary Quinto, Billy Porter, Christian Borle, and Frank Wood

Runners-up: The Normal Heart w Joe Mantello and Ellen Barkin (who should have been in the film instead of Julia Roberts imho) — the entire theater (of mostly gay men) was sobbing; August Osage County; Matthew Lopez’s The Inheritance (another 2-part 7-hour gay epic)

Just saw Purpose directed by Phylicia Rashad tonight and highly recommend!

[mtaabq]

“The Little Dog Laughed” at the Desert Rose Theater in Palm Desert/Palm Springs. “Love! Valour! Compassion!” at The Vortex in Albuquerque. Not sure if it counts but “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof” on PBS’s “American Playhouse” with Jessica Lange and Tommy Lee Jones (back in the 80’s) as well as the (somewhat) recent London version with Sienna Miller, which I saw at the cinema. 

[Alex Hawk]

“Boys in the Band” 2018 revival

”To Kill a Mockingbird” recent revival (saw with Jeff Daniels)

”Take Me Out” 2022 revival

“A Doll’s House” 2023 revival

“Topdog/Underdog” 2023 revival

An Enemy of the People” 2024 revival

“A Streetcar Named Desire” 2025 revival (Brooklyn)

 

I’m still relatively new to serious theater but have been making up for lost time since @sf westcoasterfirst introduced me to the magic of Broadway in 2018. If I had to narrow it down I’d choose Doll’s House, Enemy of the People, and Streetcar. All fairly stripped down productions, which is controversial but usually works well for me. I think it lets the playwright’s words really resonate. These productions effectively demonstrated the contemporary relevance of their older source material.

[Manhattan]

On 7/31/2024 at 9:41 AM, skynyc said:

Hard to pick one, but agree with BN above that Little Bear Ridge Road at Steppenwolf in Chicago right now is one of the best I've seen in awhile. Subtle and funny and heartbreaking look at two broken people trying to connect. Laurie Metcalf is amazing. 

 

Thank you for the recommendation! Just got tickets to see it in NYC. 
Metcalf is scheduled to do eight shows per week. I hope she takes good care of her health and doesn't miss my Saturday eve performance!

[Manhattan]

I saw Little Bear Ridge Road and Laurie Metcalf was magnificent. The writing was good, but the guy who played her brother was terrible.  I don't know why they kept him. Almost ruined the experience for me. 

[+ EVdude]

1995 - Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia in NYC has always stuck with me. Trevor Nunn directed Billy Crudup, Blair Brown, Victor Garber, Robert Sean Leonard, and Paul Giamatti. Left mesmerized.

[TruHart1]

Back in 2013, on Broadway, I saw one of the funniest comedies I’ve ever seen: “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” a play by Christopher Durang. With a knockout cast of Sigourney Weaver, David Hyde Pierce, Kristine Nielsen, and my first encounter with a very HOT Billy Magnussen (as Spike, who was in tight black underwear and nothing else for practically the entire show!)

I was truly laughing out loud in many parts of the play! In addition, as sort of a topper to a very satisfying theater experience, Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen were sitting a few seats away from me that night!

TruHart1 😎

[jeezifonly]

7 hours ago, TruHart1 said:

Back in 2013, on Broadway, I saw one of the funniest comedies I’ve ever seen: “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” a play by Christopher Durang. With a knockout cast of Sigourney Weaver, David Hyde Pierce, Kristine Nielsen, and my first encounter with a very HOT Billy Magnussen (as Spike, who was in tight black underwear and nothing else for practically the entire show!)

I was truly laughing out loud in many parts of the play! In addition, as sort of a topper to a very satisfying theater experience, Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen were sitting a few seats away from me that night!

TruHart1 😎

That same production came to LA and I was backstage on it. Original Sonya, and Cassandra, Hyde-Pierce directed, another fine actor played Vanya, Christine Ebersole as Masha and David Hull as Spike. We had to (got to!) extend for a week. A happy experience in every way. Hilarious play! 

[TruHart1]

4 hours ago, jeezifonly said:

That same production came to LA and I was backstage on it. Original Sonya, and Cassandra, Hyde-Pierce directed, another fine actor played Vanya, Christine Ebersole as Masha and David Hull as Spike. We had to (got to!) extend for a week. A happy experience in every way. Hilarious play! 

Wow! Christine Ebersole has perfect comedic timing! I’ve followed her career for many years.

TruHart1 😎

[dcguy20]

The 1988-89 production of Our Town. I saw it with both Penelope Ann Miller and Helen Hunt as Emily Webb. Don Ameche was the stage manager towards the end of it's short run. It was recorded for PBS and can be found on YouTube. 

I saw the Paul Newman production as well, but didn't enjoy it as much. 

[pocono]

Angels in America is remarkable, saw it on Broadway.

Two years ago I was fortunate to see Fat Ham on Broadway! Wow!

Also two years ago, I saw Primary Trust off Broadway, simple but wonderful!

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

"Operation Mincemeat" currently on Broadway is pretty awesome.  Even though it's a musical, I often forget that it is a musical and just consider it a play because it is so fast paced and witty with British humor.

[Alpha714]

Saw Kimberly Akimbo on Broadway a few years ago. Loved Sunset Blvd and Moulin Rouge. Wish I had seen Angels in America in NYC. Even the local production in Atlanta a few years ago was terrific. Beautifully written play

[ShortCutie7]

I’m more of a musical fan (as an audience member), but some of my favorite plays have been:

August, Osage County (most of the original Broadway/Steppenwolf cast)

Master Class (starring Tyne Daly)

War Horse (at Lincoln Center- the play itself wasn’t great but the production/stagecraft was outstanding)

Indecent (original Broadway cast)

[Becket]

On 11/26/2024 at 11:07 PM, Manhattan said:

I'm responding to my own thread just so I don't have to keep seeing Ariana Grande lead the topic. 
 

Death of a Salesman with Brian Dennehy would be one of my tops picks and A View from the Bridge with Anthony LaPaglia would be another. I don't think of myself loving Arthur Miller, but both were great evenings of theater. 

Read a review of the revival of Death of a Salesman with Nathan Lane in the lead. Wonderful things were said about Brian Dennehy when he performed the lead. Sorry I missed it.