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.