Stageworthy - Best of Stage 2020

We know. It's been a year. And a devastating year for live performing arts. None which need reminding. 

Still, there were some shining moments before the world shut down. I managed to see 32 different shows (for a total of 37 times. The multiples were on a ship incidentally when Pandemic was declared) and still managed to see shows in Toronto, London, New York, and Dublin, before the world stopped (and moved online) and I stayed at home. 

Now I'm not going to debate whether online zoom theatre is theatre or not, as I saw a lot of wonderful online workshop and readings and Zoom plays and even by the end of the year, some plays that were designed to be seen online (acts of faith from Factory Theatre, Hags, Contractions, What Do We Need To Talk About? from the Public Theatre, Oedipus El Rey from CGTLA, Heroes of the Fourth Turning etc.) and NT Live, the Shows Must Goes On series, Hampstead Theatre, Stratford Festival, and many other theatres opened up their archives to show past shows filmed for viewing. However, I didn't keep track of them all after watching a ton of them, and I found it hard to judge some of these online theatre sometimes with technical difficulties and such so I've kept this list and archive of the shows still to the shows I saw live on stage. 

Any shows (same production version) I had seen in previous years are ineligible for this year's list.
For previous years Best of Stage Lists:

Best of Stage 2019
Best of Stage 2018 
Best of Stage 2017
Best of Stage 2016 
Best of Stage 2015 (including Hamilton) 
Best of Stage 2014 
Best of Stage 2013  
Best of Stage 2012
Best of Stage 2011 
Best of Stage 2010
Best of Stage 2009
Best of Stage 2008 
Best of Stage 2007

And alas, despite seeing far less shows than a typical year, there were still many worthy of particular mention. Granted some are London productions of shows that I missed in NYC in previous years, some are shows that opened at the end of 2019 but I only finally saw in 2020, and one was a show I missed year after year and finally caught why it kept getting remounted. Alas...

Here's the Best of Stage 2020:

1. Fairview - Young Vic Theatre - Main House - London, UK
Written by Jackie Sibblies Drury, Directed by Nadia Latif

 

It's difficult to speak about this play without revealing any spoilers, and one should go in knowing as little as possible, but I will say the very divisive reactions from it, was partly what me love it. While I was thoroughly enjoying the play, there's a moment in the play that splits the audience and the uncomfortable tension made me laugh even more. 



2. Teenage Dick - Donmar Warehouse - West End - London, UK -

Written by Mike Lew, Directed by Michael Longhurst

Richard II was a dick even as a teenager, in Mike Lew's teenage update of the Shakespeare tragedy. And while the premise allows for many clever and funny comparisons, Lew doesn't skimp on the darkness within this teenage Dick II, with a star making performance by Daniel Monks. 

3. Peter Pan - Bad Hats Theatre at Soulpepper Theatre Company in the Michael Young Theatre at the Young Centre - Toronto, ON

Adapted by Fiona Sauder and Reanne Spitzer, Music by Landon Doak, Directed by Severn Thompson

I missed this Bad Hats production year after year and finally caught it in what seems like an annual winter holiday run and I finally got to see why. A fun and imaginative take on the classic tale of Peter Pan, with a joyous cast and splendid original music, it's truly a magical ride for boys and girls of all ages, even those that ended up growing up. 

4. Cambodian Rock Band - Signature Theatre in the Diamond Stage at the Pershing Square Signature Center - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY 

Written by Lauren Yee, Featuring Songs by Dengue Fever, Directed by Chay Yew

Things seem muddled at first, but as the songs by Dengue Fever rock out, stories and characters clear up in a father and daughter who find a new understanding as secrets from the past in Cambodia are discovered. Once the show finds its rhythm, the beats are loud and bang on, with a rocking score that counterpoints the tragic story. 



5. We're Gonna Die - 2nd Stage in the Tony Kiser Theater - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY

Written by Young Jean Lee, Directed and Choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly

A play? A concert? A musical? Whatever you call it, Young Jean Lee, with the help of some musicians, and Raja Feather Kelly, have created a theatrical extravaganza on the musings of death, and in the process, of life. A lyrical performance that still beats with humour and heart (and awesome beats) with a central anchoring performance by Janelle McDermoth.

6. The Hot Wing King - Signature Theatre in the Griffin Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY

Written by Katori Hall, Directed by Steve H. Broadnax III

A saucy and delicious funny new play about a group of gay Black men on their way to a hot wing barbecue competition. 



7. The Lieutenant of Inishmore - Gaiety Theatre - Dublin, IR

Written by Martin McDonagh, Directed by Andrew Flynn

Having never seen this McDonagh play before, I figured what a better way than to see it in Dublin in a local production with an actual Irish cast, who probably would hit the odd tone of this dark comedy, and it did not disappoint. I looked up this terrific cast for this post, only to discover the handsome lead as Mad Padraic was none other than Paul Mescal, whose Normal People have made gained him worldwide fame since this production in February.  

 

8. This Is How We Got Here - Native Earth at Aki Studio - Toronto, ON

Written and Directed by Keith Barker

While this play was apparently not performed originally with an Indigenous cast, this revival has Indigenous writer Barker direct his own play with an Indigenous cast, and it gives it a whole new life and urgency, and gives the struggles of the four people a different slant and deeper understanding. 

9. Cyrano de Bergerac - The Jamie Lloyd Company at the Playhouse Theatre - West End - London, UK

Written by Edmond Rostand, in a new version by Martin Crimp, Directed by Jamie Lloyd

Well, if we can imagine James McAvoy as "ugly" in this reimagined, rapping, modernized Cyrano, it turns the poetry of the spoken word as the swords at play in this dark, sexy, and stylized minimal de Bergerac. 

10. Pearle Harbour's Agit Pop! - Next Stage Festival at Factory Theatre Mainspace - Toronto, ON -
By Pearle Harbour, Directed by Rebecca Ballarin

A cabaret musical act that has Pearle Harbour interpreting some classics in haunting new ways, but with a thread that ties this "cabaret" far more into musical territory and creating a haunting rumination on death and life in this apocalyptic world, with some biting zingers about the frightening things in our world, all as a method to calm us with her charms and soothing personality. 

Honourable Mention:

You and I  - Young People's Theatre in the Studio - Toronto, ON 

Created by Maya Ardal, Directed by Allen MacInnis

I didn't officially give this a grade, since this play for "explorers" (toddlers) wasn't meant for me, but it was a soothing and playful introduction to live performance for REALLY young audiences and their wide eyed minds. 

Breakthrough Performances (in alphabetical order):

The cast of The Hot Wing King: Nicco Annan, Sheldon Best, Cecil Blutcher, Korey Jackson, Toussaint Jeanlouis, Eric B. Robinson Jr. 

Kaleb Alexander in Alphonse
Donna Banya in Fairview

Pearle Harbour in Pearle Harbour's Agit-Pop!

Janelle McDermoth in We're Gonna Die

Daniel Monks in Teenage Dick
Joe Ngo in Cambodian Rock Band



Great Performances (in alphabetical order):

The cast of The Lieutenant of Inishmore: Desmond Eastwood, Cillian O Gairbhí, Aisling Kearns, Cillian Lenaghan, Paul Mescal, Alex Murphy, Pádraig O'Grady, Don Wycherley

The cast of Peter Pan: Jocelyn Adema, Gabriella Albino, Ann Paula Bautista, Andrew Cameron, Landon Doak, Matt Pilipiak, Victor Pokinko, Paolo Santalucia, Fiona Sauder, Emerjade Simms, Reanne Spitzer

The cast of This Is How We Got Here: Kristopher Bowman, Tamara Podemski, James Dallas Smith, Michaela Washburn

Marcus Choi in Hamilton
Frances Jue in Cambodian Rock Band

James McAvoy in Cyrano de Bergerac
Courtney Reed in Cambodian Rock Band

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Here is every Stage Show I saw in 2020 in alphabetical order. All reviews are based on a 5 stars system (Workshop, Labs, Readings, Concerts and Cabarets are not graded):


5-Skies (Musical) x2 - Princess Theatre on Princess Sky - ***

Alphonse (Play Revival) - Thea Turtle at Memorial Park - Toronto, ON - ***

bug (Play) - manidoons collective with Native Earth Performing Arts and Theatre Passe Muraille in the Mainspace - Toronto, ON - ***

Cambodian Rock Band (Musical) - Signature Theatre in the Diamond Stage at the Pershing Square Signature Center - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ****

Concert in the Park(ing Lot): British Legends (Concert) - Richmond Green - Richmond Hill, ON

Cyrano de Bergerac (Play Revival) - The Jamie Lloyd Company at the Playhouse Theatre - West End - London, UK - ****

Dana H. (Play) - Vineyard Theatre - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - **1/2

Emojiland (Musical) - The Duke on 42nd - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ***

Fairview (Play) - Young Vic Theatre - Main House - London, UK - ****1/2

Hamilton (Musical) - National Tour at Ed Mirvish Theatre - Toronto, ON - ****

The Hot Wing King (Play) - Signature Theatre in the Griffin Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - **** 

Jim Henson's Inspired Silliness (Play) - Vista Lounge on Princess Sky - ***1/2

Kitne Saare Laloo Yahan Pey Hain (Play) - Next Stage Festival at Factory Theatre Studio - Toronto, ON - **

Lady Sunrise (Play) - Factory Theatre - Toronto, ON - ***

The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Play Revival) - Gaiety Theatre - Dublin, IR - ****

Michael Misko (Magician) x3 - Princess Theatre on Princess Sky

Miguel Washington (Comedian) x2 - Princess Theatre on Princess Sky 

The Minutes (Play) - Cort Theatre - Broadway - New York City, NY - ***1/2

My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding (Concert Musical Revival) - Royal Alexandra Theatre - Toronto, ON

Pearle Harbour's Agit Pop! (Cabaret Musical) - Next Stage Festival at Factory Theatre Mainspace - Toronto, ON - ****

Peter Pan (Play) - Bad Hats Theatre at Soulpepper Theatre Company in the Michael Young Theatre at the Young Centre - Toronto, ON - ****1/2

Rachmaninoff and Scheherazade (Symphony) - Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thomson Hall - Toronto, ON

Rock Opera (Concert) x2 - Princess Theatre on Princess Sky

Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes (Play) - Tarragon Theatre Mainspace - Toronto, ON - ****

Stars of Mars (Musical Workshop) - Sheridan Theatre at Sheridan College - Oakville, ON

Teenage Dick (Play) - Donmar Warehouse - West End - London, UK - ****1/2

This Is How We Got Here (Play Revival) - Native Earth Performing Arts at Aki Studio - Toronto, ON - ****

This Was the World (Play) - Tarragon Theatre Mainspace - Toronto, ON - ***

Tumacho (Musical) - Clubbed Thumb at the Connelly Theater - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - **1/2

We're Gonna Die (Play) - 2nd Stage in the Tony Kiser Theater - Off-Broadway - New York City, NY - ****

Women at Play(s) (Short Plays) - Red Sandcastle Theatre - Toronto, ON
an understanding of brown (Play)

Many Happier Returns (Play)

Blue Marty (Play)

Queenie's Castle (Play)

Flurescent Lights (Play)

Splitting Eternity (Play)

You and I (Play for Young "Explorers") - Young People's Theatre in the Studio - Toronto, ON 


__________________________________________________________________
Previous Best-of Lists:

Best of 2019 List:
Best of Stage 2019

Best of 2018 List:
Best of Stage 2018

Best of 2017 List:
Best of Stage 2017

Best of 2016 List:
Best of Stage 2016

Best of 2015 List:
Best of Stage 2015

Best of 2014 List:
Best of Stage 2014

Best of 2013 List:
Best of Stage 2013

Best of 2012 Lists:
Best of Music 2012
Best of Stage 2012

Best of 2011 Lists:
Best of Music 2011
Best of Television 2011
Best of Stage 2011


Best of 2010 Lists:
Best of Music 2010
Best of Television 2010
Best of Stage 2010
Best of Movies 2010


Best of 2009 Lists:
Best of Music 2009
Best of Television 2009
Best of Stage 2009
Best of Movies 2009


Decadeworthy - The Best of 2000-2009 Lists:
SYTYCDworthy (w/ Videos) - List Format
Theatre of the Decade
Best Films of the Decade
Favorite Films of the Decade
Television of the Decade
Television of the Decade - 1 Season Wonders


Best of 2008 Lists:
Best of Music 2008
Best of Television 2008
Best of Stage 2008
Best of Movies 2008
Best of Television Fall '07 - Winter '08 List


Best of 2007 Lists:
Best of Music 2007
Best of Television 2007
Best of Movies 2007
Best of Stage 2007
Best of 2007 (The Final Wrap Up)
Best of Television Fall '06 - Winter '07 List


Best of 2006 Lists:
Best of Music 2006
Best of Television 2006
Best of Movies 2006
Best of 2006
Best of Television Fall '05 - Winter '06 List


Best of 2005 Lists:
Best of Television 2005
Best of Movies 2005


Photos of Cambodian Rock Band and We're Gonna Die by Joan Marcus
Photos of Cyrano de Begerac and Fairview and Teenage Dick by Marc Brenner

Photo of The Hot Wing King by Monique Belani
Photo of Pearle Harbour's Agit-Pop! by Michael Cooper
Photo of Peter Pan by Nicholas Porteous 
Photo of This Is How We Got Here by Christie Wong
Photo of The Lieutenant of Inishmore from the Gaeity Theatre website

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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