From the Desk of Jim R, Take 2: From The Desk of Jim R, Take 2, Column 294, "The Best Plays of 2021 (Equity)"

By James V. Ruocco

Playbills.
Ticket Stubs.
Reviews.
Notes.
Great Orchestra Seats.
Praiseworthy Adverts.
Opening Night.
Meet and Greet.
Twelve Months at a Glance.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the unpredictability of the Omicron Variant, 2021 was still a surprisingly great year for Equity-based theatre - LIVE or streamed - with specially selected productions of every size, shape and color coming at you day by day, week by week, month by month with very few postponements or COVID-related outbreaks disrupting ongoing performances or opening nights.

What worked?
What didn't?
What stood out?
What tanked?
What deserved a standing ovation or two?
What production did you want to stream again?
Or buy a ticket to a second showing?

After about a day of well-intentioned deliberation and scanning through an endless variety of content, from reviews and playbills to columns and specially marked reminder notes, things fell neatly into place, one by one, line by line, show by show.

Daunting?
Not really.
Exciting?
Of, course.
An open mind?
Always.
Time consuming?
No way.
Fun?
Lots.
Picks?
Very easy.

My choices are as follows:

The Best Plays of 2021 (Equity)