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NOTE: If you want a better list than this, it's likely iagoli has seen more of the underground stuff as of late than I have.
10. I Am My Own Wife. A flawed, rambling script, but it's completely mesmerizing. 9. Topdog/Underdog. Another that I'm not sure is perfect, but is really easy to get sucked into. Lori-Parks has a way with words. 8. The History Boys. Finally, a NEW approach to the "inspirational teacher that makes his students want to learn" tale. 7. The Producers. Yes, it's that good, and it's that funny. 6. Frost/Nixon. It's a powerhouse production, and it's about as expertly crafted and thrilling as any play can get. 5. Doubt. Same as the one above, but Shanley's way with words is truly remarkable and gives this the edge in terms of script. 4. Rabbit Hole. I cried hard when I saw this play. It's an incredibly restrained and touching portrayal of loss, from David Lindsay-Abaire, normally the king of the absurd. 3. Ruined. It's not perfect, definitely not as much as the three in the list above it, but the fact that it manages to make the atrocities of genocide in Africa somewhat palatable enough for an audience to want to come see it and learn is inspirational. You can't just show people getting raped onstage, and Lynn Nottage knows this. It's really a brilliant concept that's well executed. 2. The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?. The most daring play I've read in the last decade. A man is having an affair with a goat. And it's fucking hysterical and sad all at the same time. It might be Edward Albee's best play. Which is REALLY saying something. 1. The Pillowman. Martin McDonagh is a genius. If you loved In Bruges, seek out this play, the quintessential play about the "danger" that art can create. It toes every line perfectly, and makes you second-guess everything you think with every turn. I saw a bad production of this play, and I STILL was enraptured.
My movies: http://russellhainline.com My movie reviews: https://letterboxd.com/RussellHFilm/ My beer TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebeertravelguide
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