Favorite Plays

[+ quoththeraven]

In the hopes of discussing something more pleasant than politics, here's an invitation to tell us what play or plays (non-musicals only; I don't want to start that fight) you like best of those you've seen.

 

Remember, no musicals and only plays you've seen in production.

 

Mine is Torch Song Trilogy seen in a national tour. (It was also picketed by ignorant folks who condemned it for advancing the gay agenda.) Wrenching and intense, it was the best three hours of theatre I've ever experienced.

[Kevin Slater]

Fiona Shaw as Medea in London.

 

http://33.media.tumblr.com/aac2888242296f8243e3a009025b2751/tumblr_inline_n8g5y2FB3K1rdh6ct.jpg

 

Kevin Slater

[AdamSmith]

Brian Dennehy in Death of a Salesman. Finally understood the play's greatness.

[+ quoththeraven]

Fiona Shaw as Medea in London.

 

http://33.media.tumblr.com/aac2888242296f8243e3a009025b2751/tumblr_inline_n8g5y2FB3K1rdh6ct.jpg

 

Kevin Slater

 

I absolutely adore Greek tragedy, although Medea probably wouldn't be my first choice from that oeuvre. I haven't seen any live productions, though.

[Rod Hagen]

Copenhagen on the London stage 1999 blew me away and it's tied with The Pillow Man (2004?) in New York (Jeff Goldblum)

I was furious that predictable Doubt beat The Pillow man.

http://www.thebostoncalendar.com/system/events/photos/000/048/613/original/CopenhagenCover.jpg?1444031951

http://www.loveliestbookgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/cover_61_pillowman.jpg

[gallahadesquire]

The Importance of Being Earnest.

[Battle]

Titus Andronicus..I've seen gore spattered productions and staged readings. All thrilling.

[+ WilliamM]

The Wild Duck (Ralph Richardson, London); Streetcar Named Desire (Cate Blanchett, Brookly Academy of Music); American Buffalo (revival NYC Al Pacino). And most of the plays by Eugene O'Neil and Arthur Miller. The Skin of Our Teeth (NYC revival Mary Martin, Helen Hayes).

 

I also liked Pillow Man and Torch Song Trilogy.

 

Ralph Richardson had a small part, but he did more in that part than anyone else I mentioned in my post, including Pacino, Blanchett and Martin.

[+ quoththeraven]

The Importance of Being Earnest.

 

Love the play and have seen it live. It's a lot of fun.

[+ poolboy48220]

The Importance of Being Earnest.

I have never seen it live, but i had a reading of it on cassette tape that was one of my favorite things ever. Lost it years ago. It had one of the Redgrave sisters in it, that's my only clue to finding it again. It was the first Oscar Wilde I'd ever experienced. I bought it sometime in my early 30's, remembering it from an extra credit reading list from an amazing high school English teacher some 15 years earlier.

[+ quoththeraven]

I have never seen it live, but i had a reading of it on cassette tape that was one of my favorite things ever. Lost it years ago. It had one of the Redgrave sisters in it, that's my only clue to finding it again. It was the first Oscar Wilde I'd ever experienced. I bought it sometime in my early 30's, remembering it from an extra credit reading list from an amazing high school English teacher some 15 years earlier.

 

Must be Lynn. She's the comedienne. Vanessa only ever played dramatic roles.

[+ Gar1eth]

It's interesting. I'm thinking back. And the majority of plays I've seen have been musicals-even as a child the occasional play we saw was usually a musical. A lot of people on here seem to like tragedies and other depressing offerings. I prefer comedies. A touring production I remember from years ago (the early '80s ) that I really liked was Morning's At Seven. One of the main characters was played by Laurence Hugo who had previously played Mike Karr in the soap opera The Edge Of Night..

 

The next two aren't comedies. But they do end with a bit of hope.

 

My one time in London in 1989 I enjoyed A Walk In The Woods with Sir Alec Guiness and Edward Hermann.

 

I also liked the Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park production of Proof back in 2002 or so.

 

Oh and I almost forgot. I'm not sure what I would think now. But in 1985 I saw a touring production with the original stars of Greater Tuna. At the time I thought it was hilarious!!

 

Gman

[gallahadesquire]

The Wild Duck (Ralph Richardson, London); Streetcar Named Desire (Cate Blanchett, Brookly Academy of Music); American Buffalo (revival NYC Al Pacino). And most of the plays by Eugene O'Neil and Arthur Miller. The Skin of Our Teeth (NYC revival Mary Martin, Helen Hayes).

 

I also liked Pillow Man and Torch Song Trilogy.

 

Ralph Richardson had a small part, but he did more in that part than anyone else I mentioned in my post, including Pacino, Blanchett and Martin.

 

My sister wrote an essay on The Wild Duck in high school, entitled: The Wild Duck: A Fowl Play. Almost got an F for that title!

[+ sam.fitzpatrick]

I tend to prefer comedies and my favorite is Noises Off.

[bostonman]

...and my favorite is Noises Off.

 

Whenever I'm working on a show and an actor has to deal with a lot of props in a scene, etc, I often intone something like "leave the sardines..."

 

Personally, I think Act II of Noises Off is one of the funniest things ever. (And, I have to imagine, one of the hardest things ever to rehearse.)

[Rod Hagen]

Personally, I think Act II of Noises Off is one of the funniest things ever. (And, I have to imagine, one of the hardest things ever to rehearse.)

 

Michael Caine delivering the line, "Are you out or are you in? You're out, I'll call later" tickled me.

[Mikegaite]

My favorite play I have seen was Golden Tate's catch off the hail mary pass during the Seahawks-Packers game in September 2012.

 

(Sorry, but the opportunity to hijack a theatre thread into a sports thread was ineluctable).

[+ Cash4Trash]

Titus Andronicus..I've seen gore spattered productions and staged readings. All thrilling.

Make sure to see Julie Taymor's film of Titus if you haven't already.

[+ Cash4Trash]

The Janet McTeer production of A Dolls' House stands out for me. More that production than the play. Also was blown away by Il Teatro Roma's production of Orlando Furioso.

[geminibear]

My 5 year old nephew's kindergarten production of "The Three Little Pigs".

 

I laughed so hard I pissed my pants a little, but so did one of the actors.

[+ WhamIAm]

My 5 year old nephew's kindergarten production of "The Three Little Pigs".

 

I laughed so hard I pissed my pants a little, but so did one of the actors.

 

You win the thread!

[+ sam.fitzpatrick]

My favorite play I have seen was Golden Tate's catch off the hail mary pass during the Seahawks-Packers game in September 2012.

 

(Sorry, but the opportunity to hijack a theatre thread into a sports thread was ineluctable).

 

Not the butt fumble? Not the immaculate reception?

[+ glennnn]

The Woman in Black in London, tiny cast, malevolent atmosphere, the creepiest play ever in a lifetime of theater. (My Master of Art is in Drama, so I've seen hundreds). I believe it is still running after 15 years in the West End. See it. You won't be disappointed!

[mike carey]

I haven't been to many plays, Glenda Jackson in Antony and Cleopatra in Stratford is one, but I loved The Mousetrap in London. As much for the fact that it has been running for so long as anything else!

[tyro]

Tom Stoppard's The Invention of Love on Broadway.

T