Which Play to See?

[Avery Berlin]

Posted: 1/11/20 at 4:28pm

Hello everyone.  I have to choose two plays to see in April from the following: The Lehman Trilogy, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Hangmen, How I Learned to Drive, The Minutes, or American Buffalo.  Which two would you choose and why?

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/11/20 at 9:45pm

Hard to say, given that most of them haven’t started yet.

I’ve seen Lehman Trilogy and Hangmen. I thought Hangmen was good, but not McDdonagh’s best work. Lehman Trilogy is an impressive piece of theatre, but I personally didn’t care much for it because it’s all narration, and that drives me crazy.

I’m really excited for American Buffalo, but exclusively for the cast. I don’t care much for the play, but it’s such a great cast!

I don’t really know anything about The Minutes, but it has a lot of buzz, and a great cast as well.

How I Learned to Drive and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf are both very exciting. Especially Virginia Woolf.

I’m probably most excited for Virginia Woolf and American Buffalo, again, mostly for the cast. So I guess those would be my picks. But I’d so go with who you’re the biggest fan of, this or whoever’s work you’re most eager to see. Martin McDonagh/Dan Stevens? Sam Mendes? Tracy Letts and Armie Hammer? Sam Rockwell, Darren Criss, and Laurence Fishburn? Laurie Metcalf and Rupert Everett? Etc.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 1/11/20 at 10:02pm

I’d vote Laurie Metcalf over anyone else any day.

[Dionysus3]

Posted: 1/11/20 at 10:33pm

SouthernCakes said: "I’d vote Laurie Metcalf over anyone else any day.
"

100%

[fitzdavid2]

Posted: 1/11/20 at 10:59pm

I love Laurie Metcalf but I've seen her three years in a row:  A Doll's House 2, Three Tall Women, Hilary and Clinton..and Virginia Woolf just doesn't interest me since I feel I just saw it with Amy Morton and Tracy Letts, both brilliant.  Ms. Metcalf will probably be brilliant but I'll wait for her to choose another play, hopefully one that isn't 3 hrs plus.   My choices would be one new play, either The Minutes or Hangman (both Letts and McDonagh are superb writers)...I might go with "The Minutes" as it's the first time since "August" that Letts and the director Anna Shapiro have worked together.  But check the running time!  And I think there's going to be a lot of fierce energy in "American Buffalo" among Sam Rockwell, Laurence Fishburne and Darren Criss...the intimacy of the Circle in the Square will put you right in the middle of the action and it features some of Mamet's choicest dialogue.

[JPeterman]

Posted: 1/11/20 at 11:08pm

My whole June theatre trip grew out of a need to see Laure Metcalf in Virginia Woolf so that is definitely #1

I would say Lehman #2

[Wallman2]

Posted: 1/11/20 at 11:19pm

Mary-Louise Parker (Drive) and Laurie Metcalf (Virginia Woolf) are two of my favorite stage actresses, but I've just seen Ms. Parker (so wonderful) in "The Sound Inside" and I just saw Ms. Metcalf last spring (also wonderful in "Hilary and Clinton".   I hear "The Lehman Trilogy" is long (but good)-- 3 hours with three actors-- so I might choose that;  can't wait to see Sam Rockwell and Laurence Fishburne tear up the stage in "American Buffalo";  saw "Hangman" at the Atlantic, it's very good but I'll probably chance "The Minutes".  Think Letts is one of our best playwrights and actors...he's doing double duty here.

[Brodo Swaggins]

Posted: 1/12/20 at 2:00pm

Though it's not on your original list, I would also add The Inheritance for your consideration. You don't need to do the full both-plays-in-1-day deal - Just see the first play in the cycle, and decide after if you want to put down for the sequel. Great comedy, touching drama, and the final scene is easily the best moment of the entire season so far. (Bring tissues).

Updated On: 1/12/20 at 02:00 PM

[Impossible2]

Posted: 1/12/20 at 2:11pm

Lehman is an unmissable work of art.

And Virginia Wolf and Metcalf have to be a winning combo.

[BwayinVan]

Posted: 1/12/20 at 2:36pm

I typically try and see a play or two when I go on my yearly trip that allows me to see 7 shows. Because of the schedule this year (moulin rouge have a thurs Mat) I get 9 shows. I’m thinking the plays on the list this year will be Take Me Out ( already bought), The Minutes (love Jessie Mueller) and Virginia Wolf ( know nothing about it but intrigued by the cast).

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 1/12/20 at 2:51pm

I’m most excited for:

The Lehman Trilogy
How I Learned to Drive

I don’t know enough about The Minutes or American Buffalo (other than the cast and it being a Mamet revival) to be excited, yet. I know nothing about Hangmen. I’ve seen the movie of Virginia Wolff. Not sure about seeing it on stage although the casting is enticing.