There was much going on.
Fresh takes.
Seasoned classics.
New works.
Engaging comedies.
Intimate dramas.
Mesmeric revivals.
Skilled ensembles.
Surprise turns.
Amplified immersion.
Lean, mean productions.
The play. The actor. The actress. The director. The script. The interpretation.
LIVE theatre from an Equity perspective was in top form throughout Connecticut.
Playhouse on Park.
Sharon Playhouse.
TheaterWorks/Hartford.
Yale Repertory Theatre.
Hartford Stage.
Paula Vogel. Thornton Wilder. Jane Austen. William Shakespeare. Lynn Nottage. Alice Childress.
Opening night was a hit.
Great orchestra seats were plentiful.
Ticket sales skyrocketed.
The reviews came out.
Critics sung their praises.
Several productions were sold out.
There were surprises pretty much everywhere.
What worked?
What stood out?
What was the big blockbuster?
What drama reduced its audience to tears?
What comedy prompted laughter all night long?
What was the "after party" buzz and chatter?
What play did audiences choose to see a second or third time?
This year, things quickly fell into place.
Picking the very "best" plays of the 2023 season was pretty much - "one, two, three."
Fun?
Yes.
An Open Mind?
Always.
Personal favorites?
It comes with the territory.
Rereading the reviews?
Naturally.
Playing fair?
Of course.
But first, a few simple rules.
Only "press invited shows" (i.e., invites from Equity-based theaters or marketing departments within the actual venue) are eligible for "Best Play" consideration.
To place on the annual "best" list, all productions must be completely consistent in terms of excellence, execution, performance, direction, design, casting and showmanship.
No exceptions.
Please note: Normally, there's a tie for first place between two productions.
This year: There are four.
"Indecent." "Our Town" "Clyde's" and "George & Gracie: The Final Bow" have each received first honors in this year's round up of eligible "Best Play" productions.
My choices are as follows:
No comments:
Post a Comment