Theatre: The Five Best plays in London
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The Weir, Royal Court, Duke of York's
Ghost stories recounted in a rural Irish bar give way to genuine horror in Conor McPherson's humane masterpiece, beautifully directed by Ian Rickson.
2
Copenhagen, Cottesloe
Profound and fascinating Michael Frayn play about science and morality and the mysteries of human motivation.
3
Haroun and the Sea of Stories, Cottesloe
Tim Supple's joyously inventive staging of Salman Rushdie's fatwa- influenced fable.
4
Phedre, Albery
Diana Rigg and Jonathan Kent continue their formidable partnership in this powerful new Ted Hughes version of Racine's incomparable tragedy.
5
Mr Puntila and his Man, Matti, Almeida
Comedy duo The Right Size are perfect casting in this very funny revival of Brecht's play about a schizophrenic landowner and his chauffeur.
... AND BEYOND
The Inventor of Love, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
Tom Stoppard's superb fantasia on the two lifelong passions of AE Housman: scholarship and an unavailable heterosexual friend.
2
School for Scandal, Royal Shakespeare, Stratford
The award-winning combo of director Declan Donnellan and designer Nick Ormerod make their RSC debut with Sheridan's classic bitchfest.
3
Guiding Star, Everyman, Liverpool
New play by Jonathan Harvey explores the survivor's guilt still haunting the hero and destroying his family nine years after Hillsborough.
4
The Talented Mr Ripley, Palace, Watford
It's not just Mr Ripley who's talented. Playwright Phyllis Nagy adapts the novel by Patricia Highsmith. A fascinating conjunction of sensibilities.
5
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Harrogate Theatre
Swan-song for John Retallack as director of Oxford Stage Company which, under him, has produced some of the freshest touring Shakespeare around.
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