I'll be visiting New York next week, and I'd like your help figuring out what to fill my final two slots with. I already have tickets to The Little Foxes, Six Degrees of Separation, and Sweeney Todd. The shows I am considering are:
Oslo
Present Laughter
Indecent
Sweat
A Doll's House Part 2
Marvin's Room
Pacific Overtures
I live in Chicago and see a lot of great theatre there, so I want to spend this trip seeing things I otherwise would not get to see--that's why the big musicals aren't on this list (I'll catch them when they tour, also I saw Great Comet in the tent a few years ago). I'm leaning away from Sweat and Indecent because I imagine that Steppenwolf or the Goodman will do strong productions of those in the coming years. Are the productions of these shows really spectacular? I've seen Marvin's Room before and love the play, but I don't know much about this new production. I am a big Noel Coward fan, is Kevin Kline's performance not to be missed? Oslo intrigues me and I love Bartlett Sher, but it will be a bit more expensive than most shows on my list. I deeply love Laurie Metcalf, but I did not enjoy Lucas Hnath's The Christians--might I still like this work? Pacific Overtures is one of the few Sondheim shows I have not yet seen live, and I am not sure if I should rush out to this production or wait for another production closer to home.
Thanks for the help. As always, there are so many shows and such little time.
Indecent and A Doll's House, Part 2. The direction and cast of the former make it a must-see, even if the play will get done elsewhere, and the latter is just wonderful with a perfect performance from Laurie Metcalf. I can't speak to Lucas Hnath's other work, but this play is so much fun and thought provoking.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
^I fully concur. Kevin Kline's performance is incredibly delightful as well, one for which many think he'll win the Tony.
Indecent and Doll's House 2 were my favorite plays of the season
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
A Doll's House is not a play...it is an admittedly entertaining 78 minute outline for a real play (I checked as the show began and ended). Personally, I would see Present Laughter if you like Coward and Kline. I didn't and I regret it (my last choice was ADHP2 vs. Laughter...and I felt that I chose the wrong one. Also, OSLO is a terrific production, both entertaining and educating. You can't go wrong.