Not that I've read or seen absolutely everything, but if you asked me to name the greatest play ever written in the English language (Shakespeare excepted), I think I'd go with Arcadia. - ThreadSky

bcdreyer.social • 71 days ago

Not that I've read or seen absolutely everything, but if you asked me to name the greatest play ever written in the English language (Shakespeare excepted), I think I'd go with Arcadia.

Reposted from Benjamin Dreyer

“Mr. Chater, you are a welcome guest at Sidley Park, but while you are one, The Castle of Otranto was written by whomsoever I say it was, otherwise what is the point of being a guest or having one?”

I mean, jaysus.

Comments

mikerhone.bsky.social•71 days ago

God, I love that play.

Playing Valentine was incredibly challenging and richly rewarding. I wish I’d had a longer run (only four weeks). I was just starting to feel comfortable in the part when we closed.

ovejanegra.bsky.social•71 days ago

This is the second time I see this play receiving praise. First time was years ago, by someone else, and on the other site. Still haven't read it, but I did spontaneously remember it last week and went and got it. Now I'm definitely reading it.

lizzywednesday.bsky.social•71 days ago

I am very envious that you get to experience it for the first time! It is, without a doubt, one of the most profound plays I have ever had the privilege to experience. (Saw the Lincoln Center production on a school trip in 1995; I was 17.)

cschramkz.bsky.social•71 days ago

Husband and I saw Arcadia in French at La Comedie Francaise in 1999. Supposedly the first time they had presented a non-French play. Very French production. We had a copy of the script with us even though we both speak French. Quite a memorable evening at the theater.

bcdreyer.social•71 days ago

In 1999 my French might still have been passable enough for me to get at least some of the play in French (I too would have held a script).

Years earlier I'd seen Peter Brook's Cherry Orchard in Paris (in French), but by then I'd had the whole play memorized.

dpnash.bsky.social•71 days ago

If I could travel back in time to see any show, two at the top of the list would be Peter Brook’s Mahabharata and Conference of the Birds.

vmspod.bsky.social•71 days ago

my all-time fave

kasulke.co•71 days ago

I have a huge personal fondness for Artist Descending a Staircase and The Real Inspector Hound but won't argue Arcadia's possibly his best.

bcdreyer.social•71 days ago

Hound is surely a little bit of perfection. Such a treat.

kasulke.co•71 days ago

Hound (mostly) lets you in on the joke which, to your point about some of his other work, not all of them do

bcdreyer.social•71 days ago

In 1985 I saw Hound in Chicago (in a double bill with Sheridan's The Critic), featuring Ian McKellen, Eleanor Bron, and Edward Petherbridge.

It was quite, quite special.

kasulke.co•71 days ago

!!! that sounds remarkable

bcdreyer.social•71 days ago

It was in rep with The Cherry Orchard and The Duchess of Malfi; I was pretty dazzled.

robertfalls.bsky.social•71 days ago

A wonderful trio of plays in true rep. Peter Hall, frustrated with programming the NT, handed over duties to 3 teams to create a show for each of the 3 theaters - Ian McKellen & Edward Petherbridge came up with the inspired rep. Mike Alfreds, Philip Prowse, and Stoppard directed. Wonderfully.

nopoboho.bsky.social•71 days ago

Written by a Czech.

notkaspeck.bsky.social•71 days ago

"It is a defect of God's humour that he directs our hearts everywhere but to those who have a right to them."

notkaspeck.bsky.social•71 days ago

"The Byron gang unzipped their flies and patronized all over it."

hesherman.bsky.social•71 days ago

"Septimus, what is carnal embrace?"

jonathangibbs.bsky.social•71 days ago

It makes me happy to see you say it.

emelleghostlight.bsky.social•71 days ago

My home theatre produced it almost 30 years ago and it remains one of the privileges of my career to have lived in its aura for those three months. Our radiant Thomasina turned 16 on the night of the first preview - I think possibly the youngest ever in a professional production, she was a wonder.

bcdreyer.social•71 days ago

Greatest Shakespeare play: I dunno from greatest, my favorite is Midsummer.

Greatest American play: Six Degrees of Separation

Greatest play: The Cherry Orchard

There.

edwardeinhorn.bsky.social•71 days ago

Yes Arcadia is great not sure I would rate it above R&G Are Dead for Stoppard. Definitely not above Godot. American play Six Degrees (which was fine) doesn't come close to Our Town, Skin of Our Teeth, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Glengarry Glenn Ross, Glass Menagerie, View from a Bridge, others

nopoboho.bsky.social•71 days ago

TWELFTH NIGHT

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

kevidently.bsky.social•71 days ago

Greatest musical?

nopoboho.bsky.social•71 days ago

GYPSY

bcdreyer.social•71 days ago

The Music Man.

bcdreyer.social•71 days ago

Honorable mentions:

Guys and Dolls
Gypsy
Follies

kevidently.bsky.social•71 days ago

I have not yet seen it. I’m trying to catch up with classical musicals I missed as a young gay rebelling against the culture of my elders.

bcdreyer.social•71 days ago

The film is a nearly perfect translation of the stage musical, with a few less than earth-shattering alterations here and there.

And I think that some people mistake its extreme Americanness for corniness (see also Our Town).

kevidently.bsky.social•71 days ago

I don’t mind corny at all, or the concept of extreme Americanness. I’ll put it on my list. I just finished Hello, Dolly! and my husband and buddy are going to watch Meet Me in St. Louis this week.