The Best of 2019: The Best Plays I Saw

Representing 14 of Chicago’s fine theater companies, plus touring or special engagement shows, as well as a piece of Kabuki Theater in Tokyo, I saw 33 plays in 2019.

This does not include musicals, revues or operas, although a good number of plays did feature live music, just not in a storytelling way that connotes musical theater.

Some works were world premieres and others rather recent, a few can be considered classics and one was by Shakespeare.

A few plays featured just a single performer, while others had rather large casts.

Many were dramas, though I also saw a good number of comedies. 

More than two-thirds of the plays I saw merit recognition on this Best of 2019 post and EVERYTHING I saw was valuable and worthwhile, even the handful of works I gave @@@ (out of 5) or less on my Seth Saith rating scale.

So as much as a ranking of “The Best” per my tastes and whims, please see this list as a celebration of live theater--I also love musicals and posted this list yesterday—and particularly the remarkable work being done virtually every day on a stage near you, especially if, like me, you reside in the Chicago area.

The Best Plays I Saw in 2019
All were in the Chicago area. New/recent works are denoted with an *.

1. Every Brilliant Thing - Windy City Playhouse
written by Duncan Macmillan; directed by Jessica Fisch
(my review)

2. Wiesenthal - Touring production at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts

written and performed by Tom Dugan

(my review)

3. Cambodian Rock Band* - Victory Gardens Theatre

written by Lauren Yee; directed by Marti Lyons

(my review)

4. Equus - Aston Rep Theatre 
written by Peter Shaffer; directed by Derek Bertelsen

(my review)

5. How I Learned to Drive - Raven Theatre

written by Paula Vogel; directed by Cody Estle
(my review)

6. Black Ballerina* - Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre and Piven Theatre
written by Stephen Fedo & Tim Rhoze; directed by Tim Rhoze

(my review)

7. The Undeniable Sound of Right Now* - Raven Theatre 

written by Laura Eason; directed by BJ Jones
(my review)

8. John Leguizamo - Latin History for Morons* - Touring production
written and performed by John Leguizamo
(my review)

9. Oslo* - TimeLine Theatre
written by J.T. Rogers; directed by Nick Bowling
(my review)

10. A Map of Myself* - Touring production at Stage 773
written and performed by Sara Abou Rashed; directed by Larry Smith
(my review)

11. Sweat* - Goodman Theatre 
written by Lynn Nottage; directed by Ron OJ Parson
(my review)

Honorable Mention
(in alphabetical order)

The Crowd You're In With - Aston Rep Theatre
written by Rebecca Gilman; directed by Derek Bertelsen
(my review)

Four Chords and a Gun* - Touring production

written by John Ross Bowie; directed by Richard Ouzounian
(my review)
 
Into the Breeches* - Northlight Theatre
written by George Brant; directed by Jessica Thebus
(my review)

Landladies* - Northlight Theatre

written by Sharyn Rothstein; directed by Jess McLeod
(my review)

Lottery Day* - Goodman Theatre
written by Ike Holter; directed by Lili-Anne Brown
(my review)

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - Writers Theatre
written by August Wilson; directed by Ron OJ Parson
(my review)

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein* - Lookingglass Theatre
written and directed by David Catlin
(my review)

Mother of the Maid* - Northlight Theatre
written by Jane Anderson; directed by BJ Jones
(my review)

The Niceties* - Writers Theatre
written by Eleanor Burgess; directed by Marti Lyons
(my review)

Tiny Beautiful Things* - Victory Gardens Theatre
adapted by Nia Vardalos; directed by Vanessa Stalling
(my review)

True West - Steppenwolf Theatre
written by Sam Shepard; directed by Randall Arney
(my review)

The Winter's Tale - Goodman Theatre
written by William Shakespeare; directed by Robert Falls
(my review)

-- If re-posting list or highlighting selections, please attribute to: Seth Arkin on SethSaith.com

The Best of 2018: The Best Plays I Saw

In 2018, I saw 40 plays.

This doesn't include musicals, operas, ballets, sketch comedy, improv, etc.

Presented by 22 different local troupes in a wide variety of venues, some of these works were world premieres, some were age-old classics, many were somewhere in-between.

There were shows with vast casts, and several others with a single performer.

And many of the performances were fantastic, from Hollywood stars--Michael Shannon, Stacy Keach, Richard Thomas--many Chicagoland actors I've long seen and several I never had before.

A large number of the works were quite good, with all of the top 11 below earning @@@@@ or @@@@1/2 (out of 5) on my ratings scale--and the others cited at least @@@@. 

My #1 pick is still running for a few more weeks, and though it is a non-traditional play--with no spoken dialogue--it is completely magical.

As always, my exact rankings--and ratings of any play--are an inexact science, so great admiration is bestowed on all productions making my list, and many more that didn't.
   
The Best Plays I Saw in 2018
All were in the Chicago area. New/recent works are denoted with an *.

1. The Steadfast Tin Soldier* - Lookingglass Theatre
conceived and directed by Mary Zimmerman
(my review)

2. Liberty City - Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre

written by April Yvette Thompson; directed by Jonathan Wilson
(my review)

3. Pamplona* - Goodman Theatre
written by Jim McGrath; directed by Robert Falls
(my review)

4. All My Sons - Court Theatre 
written by Arthur Miller; directed by Charles Newell

(my review)

5. Downstate* - Steppenwolf Theatre

written by Bruce Norris; directed by Pam McKinnon
(my review)

6. A Home on the Lake* - Piven Theatre and Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
written by Stephen Fedo & Tim Rhoze; directed by Tim Rhoze

Liberty City at Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre

(my review)

7. A Shayna Maidel - TimeLine Theatre 

written by Barbara Lebow; directed by Vanessa Stalling
(my review)

8. Until the Flood - Goodman Theatre
written by Dael Orlandersmith; directed by Neel Keeler
(my review)

9. Linda - Steep Theatre
written by Penelope Skinner; directed by Robin Witt
(my review)

10. An Enemy of the People - Goodman Theatre
written by Henrik Ibsen; adapted & directed by Robert Falls
(my review)

11. The Gentleman Caller* - Raven Theatre 
written by Philip Dawkins; directed by Cody Estle
(my review)

Honorable Mention

Curve of Departure* - Northlight Theatre
written by Rachel Bonds; directed by BJ Jones
(my review)

The Play That Goes Wrong - National Tour / Broadway in Chicago

written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields; directed by Matt DiCarlo
(my review)
 
Indecent - Victory Gardens Theatre
written by Paula Vogel; directed by Gary Griffin
(my review)

Victims of Duty - House Theatre

written by Eugène Ionesco; directed by Shira Piven
(my review)

The Humans- National Tour / Broadway in Chicago
written by Stephen Karam; directed by Joe Mantello
(my review)

The Lonesome West - Aston Rep Theatre
written by Martin McDonagh; directed by Dana Anderson
(my review)

Vietgone - Writers Theatre
written by Qui Nguyen; directed by Lavina Jadhwani
(my review)

Lady in Denmark - Goodman Theatre
written by Dael Orlandersmith; directed by Chay Yew
(my review)

A Moon for the Misbegotten - Writers Theatre
written by Eugene O'Neill; directed by William Brown
(my review)

Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years - Goodman Theatre
written by Emily Mann; directed by Chuck Smith
(my review)

-- If re-posting list or highlighting selections, please attribute to: Seth Arkin on SethSaith.com

The Best of 2017: The Best Plays I Saw

In 2017, I saw 29 plays.

This doesn't include musicals, operas, ballets, one-man shows, sketch comedy, improv, etc.

These dramas and comedies--many a mix of both--were presented by fourteen different local troupes in a wide variety of venues.

Several of the works were quite good, and all that I cite on the list below received at least @@@@ (out of 5) on my ratings scale.

On only one--the #1 pick, a great rendition of a classic--did I bestow @@@@@, but the next six merited @@@@1/2, and trying to distinguish among them months later certainly may be imprecise.

But as best I could recall, with help from my own reviews and database, these were:
   
The Best Plays I Saw in 2017
All were in the Chicago area. New/recent works are denoted with an *.

1. The Importance of Being Earnest - Writers Theatre
written by Oscar Wilde; directed by Michael Halberstam
(my review)

2. The Minutes* - Steppenwolf Theatre

written by Tracy Letts; directed by Anna Shapiro
(my review)

3. A View From the Bridge - Goodman Theatre 
written by Arthur Miller; directed by Ivo van Hove

(my review)

4. Yasmina's Necklace* - Goodman Theatre
written by Rohina Malik; directed by Ann Filmer
(my review)

5. The Legend of Georgia McBride* - Northlight Theatre

written by Matthew Lopez; directed by Lauren Shouse
(my review)

6. Faceless* - Northlight Theatre
written by Selina Fillinger; directed by BJ Jones
(my review)

7. Relativity* - Northlight Theatre 

written by Mark St. Germain; directed by BJ Jones
(my review)

8. Eleemosynary - Aston Rep Theatre
written by Lee Blessing; directed by Jeremiah Barr & Derek Bertelsen
(my review)

9. United Flight 232 - House Theatre
written & directed by Vanessa Stalling
(my review)

10. Time Stands Still - Aston Rep Theatre 
written by Donald Marguiles; directed by Georgette Verdin
(my review)

11. Pass Over* - Steppenwolf Theatre
written by Antoinette Nwandu; directed by Danya Taymor
(my review)

Honorable Mention

Prelude to a Kiss - The Comrades

written by Craig Lucas; directed by Derek Bertelsen
(my review)
 
Quixote: On the Conquest of Self* - Writers Theatre
written by by Mónica Hoth and Claudio Valdés Kuri;
English translation by Georgina Escobar; directed by Claudio Valdés Kuri
(my review)

The Nutcracker (non-ballet) - House Theatre
written by Jake Minton, Phillip Klapperich, Kevin O'Donnell, Tommy Rapley; directed by Chris Matthews
(my review)

The Best of 2016: The Best Plays I Saw

I saw several stellar plays in 2016, from writers known and new, in theaters with less than 30 seats and more than 2,000.

Trying to compare them, some many months later, is fraught with fallibility--even in having written reviews and maintained a database of shows seen.

And perhaps it seems suspect that the play I saw most recently wound up at the top of my list.

But that one and the #2 selection are the only non-musical plays--the Best Musicals I saw in 2016 will come in the days ahead--that I awarded a full @@@@@ on the Seth Saith ratings scale.

And picks #3-6 are the only plays I gave @@@@1/2.

So while precise rankings--and heck, all of my opinions--should always be taken with a grain of salt, these are:
 
The Best Plays I Saw in 2016
All were in the Chicago area. New/recent works are denoted with an *.

1. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time* - Oriental Theatre (touring production) 
written by Simon Stephens; directed by Marianne Elliott
(my review)

2. Mary Page Marlowe* - Steppenwolf Theatre

written by Tracy Letts; directed by Anna Shapiro
(my review)

3. The Women of Lockerbie - AstonRep  
written by Deborah Brevoort; directed by Robert Tobin

(my review)

4. Yasmina's Necklace* - 16th Street Theater 
written by Rohina Malik; directed by Ann Filmer
(my review)

5. Mothers & Sons - Northlight Theatre

written by Terrence McNally; directed by Steve Scott
(my review)

6. #LOVESTORIES* - Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
written by Tania Richard, Gloria Bond Clunie and Marsha Estell; directed by Tim Rhoze 
(my review)

7. The Flick* - Steppenwolf Theatre 

written by Annie Baker; directed by Dexter Bullard
(my review)

8. Marjorie Prime* - Writers Theatre
written by Jordan Harrison; directed by Kimberly Senior
(my review)

9. Death and Harry Houdini - House Theatre
written & directed by Nathan Allen
(my review)

10. American Buffalo - Mary-Arrchie Theatre 
written by David Mamet; directed by Carlo Lorenzo Garcia
(my review)

11. A Small Oak Tree Runs Red* - Congo Square Theatre
written by Lekethia Dalcoe; directed by Harry Lennix
(my review)

Honorable Mention

The City of Conversation* - Northlight Theatre

written by Anthony Giardina; directed by Marti Lyons
(my review)
 
The Few* - Steep Theatre Co. 
written by Samuel D. Hunter; directed by Brad Akin
(my review)

Between Riverside and Crazy* - Steppenwolf Theatre
written by Stephen Adly Guirgis; directed by Yasen Peyankov
(my review)

The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window - Goodman Theatre 
written by Lorraine Hansberry; directed by Anne Kauffman
(my review)

Dying City* - The Comrades
written by Christopher Shinn; directed by Elizabeth Lovelady
(my review)

The Best of 2015: The Plays of the Year (dramatically speaking)

Occasionally I sense, or simply imagine, a certain dubiousness over how many shows I highly rate on my Seth Saith @@@@@ scale.

While understanding that no critic can expect anything close to 100% congruency with any given reader--let alone all of them--and without apologizing for the great number of shows I substantially enjoy (across various idioms and genres, within and beyond theater), I believe there is at least one logical rationalization for my high percentage of @@@@ and above reviews:

I primarily go to shows I expect to like.

Unlike a paid professional who may get assigned to see anything and everything, I specifically select what I see--excepting works in my Broadway in Chicago and Goodman Theatre subscriptions.

In terms of rock concerts, the acts I see are predominantly repeats; several I've seen 5-10+ times, so I can pretty much count on the latest show being satisfying, or even superb. (See my picks for the Best Concerts of 2015.)

A lot of theater that I attend ad hoc is based upon the recommendations of professional critics, most notably Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune. And even shows within subscription series have usually passed some muster, whether having succeeded on Broadway or otherwise convincing esteemed Artistic Directors of their merits.

But for those who still see me as a softie, let me note of the 27 plays I saw in 2015, while I at least "liked" the vast majority, I bestowed less than sterling @@@1/2 ratings upon the 2013 Tony-winning play, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (which I saw staged by Chicago's Goodman Theatre), one of the classics of the American theater canon, The Little Foxes, and seemingly the longest-running local production in 2015 (spanning three separate venues), Bad Jews. 

And while my ranking of the musicals I liked best in 2015 includes seven shows I felt merited @@@@@ and another 13 that got @@@@1/2, I gave only one play the former--the top choice below--and just seven more the latter.

So while I was again greatly enriched by an abundance of excellent dramatic and comedic theater, most featuring wonderful performances and well-worth others' attention, I can in fact be somewhat discriminating.

Or so I like to think.

And no, the top two selections being from the same theater just a mile from my home is in no way based on homerism.

Anyway, here are...

The Best Plays I Saw in 2015
All were in the Chicago area unless noted. New/recent works are denoted with an *.

1. Outside Mullingar* - Northlight Theatre (my review)
written by John Patrick Shanley; directed by BJ Jones

2. Funnyman* - Northlight Theatre (my review)

written by Bruce Graham; directed by BJ Jones

3. The Mecca Tales* - Chicago Dramatists (my review)
written by Rohina Malik; directed by Rachel Edwards Harvith

4. Assassination Theater* - Museum of Broadcast Communications (my review) written by Hillel Levin; directed by Kevin Christopher Fox

5. Skylight - Golden Theatre, New York 

written by David Hare; directed by Stephen Daldry

6. The Herd* - Steppenwolf Theatre (my review)
written by Rory Kinnear; directed by Frank Galati

7. Churchill* - The Greenhouse (my review)
written by Ronald Keaton; directed by Kurt Johns

8. The Royale* - American Theater Company (my review)
written by Marco Ramirez; directed by Jaime Casteneda

9. Good for Otto* - The Gift Theatre (my review)
written by David Rabe; directed by Michael Patrick Thornton

10. A Christmas Carol - Goodman Theatre (my review)

Adapted by Tom Creamer; directed by Henry Wishcamper

11. Disgraced* - Goodman Theatre (my review)
written by Ayad Akhtar; directed by Kimberly Senior

Honorable Mention

Beast on the Moon - Raven Theatre (my review)
written by Richard Kalinoski; directed by Michael Menendian

Never the Sinner - Victory Gardens Theatre (my review)
written by John Logan; directed by Gary Griffin

Marvin's Room - Shattered Globe at Theater Wit (my review)
written by Scott McPherson; directed by Sandy Shinner

Maya's Last Poem* - Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre (my review)
written & directed by Tim Rhoze

Two Trains Running - Goodman Theatre (my review) @@@@
written by August Wilson; directed by Chuck Smith