What are your favorite Theatrical Plays?

[Sean]

Since Musicals and plays are pretty different from each other, I figured that a new thread was in order.

The Crucible
A Raisin in the Sun

Two very good plays in my opinion.

[RJDiogenes]

I'll have to give this some thought, but I once saw an excellent version of Dracula at the theater. And Miss Saigon was excellent, though very upsetting. I'll have to think back....

[mudshark]

And Miss Saigon was excellent, though very upsetting.

Isn't that a musical, though?


I don't go to the theater very much, so I don't really have a list, but Hamlet has always been a favorite.

Also, these had an impact on me when I saw them:

Master Harold and the Boys
Woza, Albert
Bopha!
The Kiss of the Spider Woman

I have also seen a number of plays generally held to be superior which were ruined for me by inept or just plain weird staging and/or performance.

[RJDiogenes]

Yeah, you're right, Miss Saigon is a musical. I forgot about those parts (although the dance number in the Thai bar was very sexy). It was a very upsetting play.

[mudshark]

Yeah, you're right, Miss Saigon is a musical. I forgot about those parts (although the dance number in the Thai bar was very sexy). It was a very upsetting play.

You should see Puccini's version.

[RJDiogenes]

That wouldn't be as bad-- it's the Vietnam stuff that bugs me.

[Sean]

Ah, Wilderness!.

Saw it at the Irish Classical Theatre last week. I have no idea what spawned the title though...

[mudshark]

Ah, Wilderness!.

Saw it at the Irish Classical Theatre last week. I have no idea what spawned the title though...

From here:

The play takes place around the Fourth of July, 1906, and focuses on the Miller family, presumably of New London, Connecticut. The main plot deals with the middle son, 17-year-old Richard, and his coming of age.

The title derives from Quatrain XI of Edward Fitzgerald's translation of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, which is one of Richard's favorite poems.

Quatrain XI:

Perhaps the most famous of FitzGerald's verses is this one, which can be traced back to at least two original quatrains that FitzGerald conflated into one:

Quatrain XI in his 1st edition:

Here with a Loaf of Bread beneath the Bough,
A Flask of Wine, a Book of Verse - and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness -
And Wilderness is Paradise enow.


Quatrain XII in his 5th edition [1]:

"A Book of Verses underneath the Bough,
A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread--and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness--
Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow!"

Suddenly recalled, as I was reviewing this before posting:

"This Ruby Hat of Omar Khay-ay-ay... I am appalled!" (Yeah, it's a musical.)

[RJDiogenes]

"A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread--and Thou." One of the most famous phrases in the English language. It's funny how the entire quatrain can be taken as quite sarcastic, though.

[Sean]

Our Town has now placed in my list of favorites. No surprise...

[RJDiogenes]

[Madeliaette]

oh boy this takes me back a coupla decades, lol.... I used to attend live theater in my late teens for a few years. let's see...
Dear Octopus (NO Not that octopussy from the sea creatures thread!!)
A Touch of Spring
Educating Rita
(I also liked the '3 time plays' collection by JB Priestley - but I have only read those, i have yet to see them acted out.)

[RJDiogenes]

Hmm. I'll have to look up Dear Octopus. Our Octopus might like to see it.

[Madeliaette]

if i recall correctly - which i might not as it was last seen over 20 years back - it was written by the writer of 101 dalmations...

[RJDiogenes]

Yup, Dodie Smith, according to Wiki. Unfortunately, they don't have pages for most of her works, including Dear Octopus.