Tuesday, August 11, 2020

BEST OF THE DECADE: 10 Favorite New Plays

As we near the end of our Best of the Decade series, we recognize that we haven't seen nearly enough plays over the past ten years. But, for the most part, we enjoyed what we saw. That said, our list may not look like what many of yours might. 

Here they are, alphabetically:


Best of the Decade:

Jeff and Mike's

10 Favorite Broadway Plays


The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Simon Stephens (2014)

What a beautiful story, told in a thrilling, insightful way. As visually stunning as it was emotionally charged. 





A Doll's House, Part 2 by Lucas Hnath (2017)

Cheeky, smart and dense, this blink-and-you-miss-it one-acter was a triumph of acting and style. Laurie Metcalf is a marvel.





Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two by Jack Thorne (2018)

An absolute triumph of stagecraft and entertainment value. Who knew being on the edge of your seat for 7+ hours could be so damned much fun?



The Humans by Stephen Karam (2016)

The spooky and intense look at family drama is one we are still thinking about. What did we see? How did Momo disappear before our very eyes? It was breathtaking drama from start to finish.




One Man, Two Guvnors by Richard Bean (2012)

We love all things British, and this riotous comedy was a banquet of pleasures. I don't think I've ever laughed harder at a play. The dialogue was witty and the physical comedy was sublime.



Other Desert Cities by Jon Robin Baitz (2011)

Loved this play so much we saw it twice. What a honor to see Stockard Channing and Stacey Keach! But the interesting thing was to see how one line reading different between two great actresses (Rachel Griffiths and Elizabeth Marvel) can entirely change the ending of a play.




To Kill a Mockingbird by Aaron Sorkin (2018)

A beautiful re-telling of one of my favorite books, I went in thinking the play would have to prove to me it was worthy of adaptation. Well, I don't think we were more than 5 minutes in, and I was sold. Stunning perfection.




Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang (2013)

Always enjoy a comedy with a twisted sense of humor! A real treat to see David Hyde Pierce, Kristine Neilsen and Sigourney Weaver at the height of their abilities. And I'm still not over Spike!




Venus in Fur by David Ives (2011)

Ives' two-hander was compelling from start to finish, made even more so by Nina Arianda's brilliant, career-defining turn and Hugh Dancy's vastly underrated performance. This is one play I'd like so see again, soon.




War Horse by Nick Stafford (2011)

Marianne Elliott spent the decade proving she is a master of amazing stagecraft carefully balanced with grounded acting. This is the show that started it all. Both epic and very small, as truly eye-popping as those puppets and the rest of the effects were, it was just as emotionally satisfying. Tears were definitely shed.

#2383

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