ARTICLESMUST SEEREVIEWSTom Williams

Top 12 Plays of 2016

Top 12 Plays of 2016

By Tom Williams

12. Mr & Mrs Pennyworth

 

 

 

 

” A love story…and a murder mystery…and a science-fiction fantasy

…and a fairy tale adventure.” Hara also sees it as a philosophical

exploration of what it means to be “alive.”

11. The Hunter and the Bear

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The story, part fable, part frontier ghost story and parable, takes us from a  campfire to wondering through the woods as the group fears a bear attack. When Tobias, the pragmatic hunter, decides to protect  the community from the bear,  he ventures into the woods in search. His imaginative son Elliot, who loves storytelling, wonders out into the forest to aid his father, he disappears.

10. Red Velvet

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is the story of the first African-American actor to play Othello for two performances at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden in London in 1833.

9. London Wall

 

 

 

 

 

 

This “professional play” is a workplace comedy of manners which depicts the struggles of single women who do shorthand typing for a 1/10th of what a man would make.

8. Hand to God

 

 

 

 

Hilarious satire of Southern religious beliefs is a non-stop laugh fest.

7. Bakersfield Mist

 

 

 

 

 

Totally engrossing two-hander is a funny, thought provoking mystery

about authenticity and what makes art.

 

6. Roz & Ray

 

 

 

 

 

Powerful dramatization of the tragedy of hemophiliac s getting

AIDS from contaminated blood.

5. Miss Holmes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walsh creates a female Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson that were not simply females playing the men but new characters who were burdened with most of the prejudices, societal limitations, and female rebellion were not tolerated in 19th Century England.

4.  Man in the Ring

 

 

 

 

Stunning world premiere about boxer Emile  Griffin as he

struggles with dementia late in his life.

3. End of the Rainbow

 

 

 

 

 

Legendary Judy Garland comes to life in stunning performance by Angela  Ingersoll.

2. (tie) Tug of War: Civil Strife; Tug of War: Foreign Fire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The blend of Shakespearean verse, vivid sound effects and rock music with adapter/director Barbara Gaines’ blend of the histories made for an engrossing day of theatre!
1. 2666

 

 

 

One of the most anticipated, bizarre, and audacious works in the American theatrical landscape finally makes its debut at the Goodman after years of development. 2666, adapted from the posthumously published novel by Roberto Bolaño, is a five-and-a-half-hour long epic narrative which, like the Chilean author’s novel, radically changes styles with each act