What are the Best Plays/Worst Plays you have ever seen?

[Scepticalscribe]

The title says it all. Currently, there are threads on movies, (best movies), and, mirroring that, worst movies ever seen. However, I have found that the pleasure/high/ emotional response to a truly superb play, or production/performance truly transcends that of anything but the best of movies. Feel free to disagree. Likewise, poor drama really upsets me in a way that movies never manage.

I have been lucky to see a few of the "greats" in action, live, on stage. Two decades ago, I saw the late, great, Paul Schofield on stage in London, and recently, in Ireland, I was privileged to see James Cromwell in a wonderful production of A Long Day's Journey Into Night.

Great plays that I have seen have included "I Do Not Like Thee Mr Fell", and "Accidental Death of an Anarchist", both performed by Druid Lane Theatre. The Spanish company Els Comediants have done a brilliant "History of the World"; Footsbarn, a touring iconoclastic (and strongly international) but originally British - company have done some stunning interpretations of Shakespeare's classics, Hamlet, King Lear and MacBeth.

Anyway, cheers and I'd be interested in what people think were good plays, and why; or if any performances stood out as worth remembering.

Cheers

 

[shecky]

Trinity Rep in Providence, RI did a production of All the King's Men that was unbelievably amazing - most interesting for those who know the story, they cast an african-american in the lead role of Willie Stark.

not really a play but Spamalot was fantastic, as was Blue Man Group.

 

[OutThere]

I saw The Giver (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Giver) adapted for stage in elementary school. It was unbelievably craptastical.

I really enjoyed Damn Yankees at the local playhouse...I don't see a lot of big productions, but that's a standout in my memory.

 

[Steve1496]

I really enjoyed Wicked. The music was fantastic, the acting was great, and it was all around just a great time. If it came back again, I would go see it again!

Steve

 

[Rhosfelt]

Cats, horrid.

Phantom of the Opera was awesome, and so was The Lion King, even if just for the costumes.