Goodreads Top 100 Stage Plays of All Time

The list of recommendations of the "Top 100 Stage Plays of All Time" originates from the Serious Literature Group of Goodreads.

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1	Hamlet by William Shakespeare 4.03 avg rating — 886,449 ratings score: 14,048, and 143 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	Macbeth by William Shakespeare 3.90 avg rating — 834,109 ratings score: 11,033, and 114 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde 4.18 avg rating — 349,611 ratings score: 8,721, and 91 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett 3.84 avg rating — 189,470 ratings score: 7,693, and 80 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare 3.74 avg rating — 2,456,924 ratings score: 7,438, and 79 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare 3.95 avg rating — 512,437 ratings score: 6,743, and 72 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Othello by William Shakespeare 3.89 avg rating — 367,888 ratings score: 5,954, and 64 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	King Lear by William Shakespeare 3.91 avg rating — 207,400 ratings score: 5,931, and 64 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller 3.56 avg rating — 219,982 ratings score: 5,241, and 57 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Antigone (The Theban Plays, #3) by Sophocles 3.66 avg rating — 138,247 ratings score: 5,129, and 56 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen 3.75 avg rating — 133,046 ratings score: 5,083, and 55 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams 3.98 avg rating — 296,009 ratings score: 5,051, and 55 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	The Crucible: A Play in Four Acts by Arthur Miller 3.60 avg rating — 384,652 ratings score: 5,031, and 55 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard 4.04 avg rating — 87,081 ratings score: 5,004, and 53 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Oedipus Rex (The Theban Plays, #1) by Sophocles 3.72 avg rating — 203,139 ratings score: 4,471, and 49 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Our Town by Thornton Wilder 3.69 avg rating — 50,068 ratings score: 4,064, and 45 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw 3.89 avg rating — 99,079 ratings score: 3,935, and 43 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	The Tempest by William Shakespeare 3.79 avg rating — 198,771 ratings score: 3,546, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Edward Albee 4.06 avg rating — 58,714 ratings score: 3,454, and 39 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?: Revised by the Author by Edward Albee 4.06 avg rating — 67,275 ratings score: 3,414, and 39 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov 3.69 avg rating — 37,634 ratings score: 3,106, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams 3.73 avg rating — 127,829 ratings score: 3,026, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry 3.85 avg rating — 88,275 ratings score: 2,672, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare 3.97 avg rating — 174,747 ratings score: 2,649, and 30 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand 4.06 avg rating — 81,223 ratings score: 2,524, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare 4.06 avg rating — 235,313 ratings score: 2,511, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare 3.79 avg rating — 179,736 ratings score: 2,494, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	The Misanthrope by Molière 3.77 avg rating — 21,884 ratings score: 2,424, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Arcadia by Tom Stoppard 4.14 avg rating — 22,356 ratings score: 2,403, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Angels in America by Tony Kushner 4.28 avg rating — 20,185 ratings score: 2,361, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Long Day's Journey into Night by Eugene O'Neill 4.05 avg rating — 39,541 ratings score: 2,164, and 25 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Amadeus by Peter Shaffer 4.15 avg rating — 18,225 ratings score: 2,081, and 25 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	No Exit and Three Other Plays by Jean-Paul Sartre 4.08 avg rating — 28,753 ratings score: 2,031, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Richard III by William Shakespeare 3.91 avg rating — 50,951 ratings score: 2,008, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	Dr. Faustus by Christopher Marlowe 3.80 avg rating — 64,472 ratings score: 1,906, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde 3.91 avg rating — 23,688 ratings score: 1,892, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Tartuffe by Molière 3.66 avg rating — 37,150 ratings score: 1,890, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	A Man for All Seasons: A Play in Two Acts by Robert Bolt 3.88 avg rating — 13,776 ratings score: 1,763, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Lysistrata by Aristophanes 3.85 avg rating — 41,015 ratings score: 1,722, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring 4.14 avg rating — 24,127 ratings score: 1,714, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht 3.90 avg rating — 13,000 ratings score: 1,610, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde 4.01 avg rating — 40,967 ratings score: 1,604, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Faust, First Part by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 3.87 avg rating — 71,295 ratings score: 1,542, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet 3.88 avg rating — 17,245 ratings score: 1,483, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Fences (The Century Cycle, #6) by August Wilson 3.88 avg rating — 24,172 ratings score: 1,465, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	West Side Story by Arthur Laurents 4.34 avg rating — 2,010 ratings score: 1,460, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	The Seagull by Anton Chekhov 3.91 avg rating — 30,778 ratings score: 1,458, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare 3.76 avg rating — 165,975 ratings score: 1,394, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare 3.71 avg rating — 31,396 ratings score: 1,392, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Medea and Other Plays by Euripides 4.01 avg rating — 17,655 ratings score: 1,386, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov 3.85 avg rating — 24,566 ratings score: 1,360, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	The Miracle Worker: A Play by William Gibson 4.20 avg rating — 34,345 ratings score: 1,325, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	Endgame by Samuel Beckett 3.80 avg rating — 20,437 ratings score: 1,324, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	Medea by Euripides 3.92 avg rating — 69,819 ratings score: 1,310, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	The Oresteia: Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, The Eumenides by Robert Fagles 4.01 avg rating — 41,900 ratings score: 1,288, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	Caligula by Albert Camus 4.10 avg rating — 12,275 ratings score: 1,258, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	Mother Courage and Her Children by Bertolt Brecht 3.64 avg rating — 19,707 ratings score: 1,227, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	Hedda Gabler and Other Plays by Henrik Ibsen 3.92 avg rating — 801 ratings score: 1,225, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	A View from the Bridge: A Play in Two Acts by Arthur Miller 3.70 avg rating — 14,941 ratings score: 1,158, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw 3.83 avg rating — 10,433 ratings score: 1,110, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	The Bald Soprano and Other Plays by Eugène Ionesco 4.03 avg rating — 6,095 ratings score: 1,090, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	Equus by Peter Shaffer 3.91 avg rating — 21,286 ratings score: 1,078, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	Noises Off by Michael Frayn 4.19 avg rating — 15,060 ratings score: 1,040, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	Henry V by William Shakespeare 3.86 avg rating — 47,705 ratings score: 1,019, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	The Frogs by Aristophanes 3.79 avg rating — 7,451 ratings score: 1,008, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	Twelve Angry Men by David Mamet 4.07 avg rating — 29,829 ratings score: 983, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward 3.98 avg rating — 5,609 ratings score: 980, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen 3.82 avg rating — 35,072 ratings score: 969, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	Saint Joan by Imogen Stubbs 3.76 avg rating — 8,904 ratings score: 963, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street by Stephen Sondheim (Music, Lyrics) 4.08 avg rating — 18,150 ratings score: 942, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	The Zoo Story and Other Plays by Edward Albee really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2,766 ratings score: 938, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	King Henry IV, Part 1 by William Shakespeare 3.80 avg rating — 28,793 ratings score: 920, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare 3.70 avg rating — 193,810 ratings score: 911, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen 3.86 avg rating — 12,806 ratings score: 899, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	Phèdre by Jean Racine 3.70 avg rating — 19,822 ratings score: 889, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	The Playboy of the Western World by J.M. Synge 3.55 avg rating — 4,933 ratings score: 888, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley 3.82 avg rating — 33,017 ratings score: 879, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	Pirates of Penzance by W.S. Gilbert 4.04 avg rating — 933 ratings score: 866, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht 3.75 avg rating — 8,158 ratings score: 862, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	The Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman 3.96 avg rating — 14,261 ratings score: 812, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	The Lion in Winter by James Goldman 4.22 avg rating — 9,731 ratings score: 779, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel 3.70 avg rating — 4,301 ratings score: 765, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance 4.11 avg rating — 10,875 ratings score: 764, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	Major Barbara by George Bernard Shaw 3.66 avg rating — 7,133 ratings score: 757, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	The Iceman Cometh by Harold Bloom 3.90 avg rating — 9,721 ratings score: 754, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	Betrayal by Harold Pinter 3.95 avg rating — 7,710 ratings score: 740, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	Richard II by William Shakespeare 3.77 avg rating — 23,438 ratings score: 735, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	Blood Wedding and Yerma by Federico García Lorca 3.87 avg rating — 1,209 ratings score: 732, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	Edward II by Christopher Marlowe 3.65 avg rating — 6,608 ratings score: 727, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	The Homecoming by Harold Pinter 3.71 avg rating — 9,569 ratings score: 724, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	Dead Shambles by Chris Raven (Goodreads Author) 3.37 avg rating — 19 ratings score: 700, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	American Buffalo by David Mamet 3.75 avg rating — 4,958 ratings score: 646, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	Coriolanus by William Shakespeare 3.72 avg rating — 16,659 ratings score: 644, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	Rhinoceros / The Chairs / The Lesson by Eugène Ionesco 4.02 avg rating — 5,745 ratings score: 637, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	Mourning Becomes Electra by Eugene O'Neill 3.99 avg rating — 4,706 ratings score: 636, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	The Miser by Molière 3.61 avg rating — 25,500 ratings score: 629, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	Six Characters in Search of an Author and Other Plays by Luigi Pirandello 3.94 avg rating — 3,113 ratings score: 628, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	Deathtrap by Ira Levin 4.03 avg rating — 2,830 ratings score: 616, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter 3.71 avg rating — 11,838 ratings score: 610, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	M. Butterfly by David Henry Hwang 3.92 avg rating — 13,700 ratings score: 606, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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424 books · 538 voters · list created October 2nd, 2011 by David Lentz (votes) .

Tags: best, plays, top-100-stage-plays

154 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (538)

David 859 books
1915 friends

Susanna - Censored by GoodReads 3311 books
864 friends

Bettie 15669 books
19 friends

Dawn 4595 books
35 friends

Autumn 2887 books
196 friends

Thom 6022 books
298 friends

ღ Carol jinx~☆~☔ʚϊɞ 3712 books
461 friends

Marion 1143 books
4 friends

More voters…

Post a comment »
Comments Showing 1-50 of 56 (56 new)

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message 1: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Oct 02, 2011 11:43AM

Why is Romeo and Juliet on twice?

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message 2: by David (new)

Oct 02, 2011 12:21PM

Sorry for the duplication of "R&J", the 100th play should be "Coriolanus" by Shakespeare.

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message 3: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Oct 02, 2011 12:25PM

Alrighty, I'll make it "remove duplicates," and that should solve the problem.

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message 4: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Oct 02, 2011 12:32PM

OK, I have combined duplicates about five times and it won't stick. CJ, could you remove the one with the portrait of William Shakespeare on it, which is the duplicate?

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message 5: by David (new)

Oct 02, 2011 12:39PM

Thanks very much, Susanna.

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message 6: by Bettie (new)

Oct 02, 2011 12:40PM

I take it this is a DO NOT ADD BOOKS TO THIS LIST type of list, only if it doesn't say that up top you know what'll happen

:O)

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message 7: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Oct 02, 2011 12:41PM

No problem! Let's just hope it sticks this time.

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message 8: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Oct 02, 2011 12:44PM

Bettie wrote: "I take it this is a DO NOT ADD BOOKS TO THIS LIST type of list, only if it doesn't say that up top you know what'll happen

:O)"

Good point. You might want to consider if you want to add that notice, David.

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message 9: by David (new)

Oct 02, 2011 12:45PM

Agreed. Done. Thank you, Bettie.

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message 10: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Oct 02, 2011 01:00PM

I see one's crept on already - you want me to remove Merchant of Venice, David?

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message 11: by David (new)

Oct 02, 2011 01:02PM

Yes, please.

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message 12: by David (new)

Oct 02, 2011 01:06PM

Dear CR,
No worries. It's a very fine play. The challenge for our Serious Literature Group was not to add every Shakespeare play but rather to give a chance to a broad array of worthy playwrights.

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message 13: by Caitlin (new)

Oct 02, 2011 01:21PM

#96 and #98 both are Gorky, and list the same play, The Lower Depths, although one is an anthology.

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message 14: by Thom (new)

Oct 02, 2011 02:01PM

Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie is superior to any other Williams play and a good many on this list. Just saying.

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message 15: by Tom (new)

Oct 02, 2011 05:23PM

If you can't think of 100 better plays than ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD, you need to think harder.

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message 16: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Oct 02, 2011 07:02PM

I see some outliers have crept on - you want me to remove them, David?

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message 17: by Kathrina (new)

Oct 02, 2011 07:36PM

Do you think the "outliers" can't hear you? This is listopia. Make a shelf if you want it private.

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message 18: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Oct 02, 2011 08:04PM

I'm merely asking the list creator, who wanted a closed list, if he wanted that respected or not.

I doubt the outliers can hear me; they are plays. Which didn't have ears, the last time I checked.

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message 19: by Reese (new)

Oct 02, 2011 08:26PM

Susanna wrote: "I'm merely asking the list creator, who wanted a closed list, if he wanted that respected or not.

I doubt the outliers can hear me; they are plays. Which didn't have ears, the last time I checked."

Touche!

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message 20: by Reese (new)

Oct 02, 2011 08:30PM

Kathrina wrote: "Do you think the "outliers" can't hear you? This is listopia. Make a shelf if you want it private."

A list maker isn't allowed to create the "rules of the game" because this is listopia???

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message 21: by Thom (new)

Oct 03, 2011 04:50AM

Reese wrote: "Kathrina wrote: "Do you think the "outliers" can't hear you? This is listopia. Make a shelf if you want it private."

A list maker isn't allowed to create the "rules of the game" because this is ..."

The Outliers are restless tonight.

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message 22: by David (new)

Oct 03, 2011 04:59AM

Dear Goodreaders,
This list has been open for discussion for nearly four weeks by the Serious Literature Group of Goodreads, which has also recently published Top 100 lists on literary novels and poems. This group is comprised of a highly diverse group of Goodreaders. I have agreed to publish the consensus of our group. The purpose of this list is to promote discussion about great stage plays. I'm glad to see that you have strong opinions and favorites as they will help to point readers to Goodreads. Please vote for your favorites and voice your agreement or disagreement with the list. There were so many great plays it was a challenge to identify only 100 -- Shakespeare properly occupies a significant section of the list and a strong argument could well be made that every one of his plays should be on this top 100 list. I don't agree with all the selections myself and haven't read all of them. Nevertheless, I do plan to indulge in reading and seeing new stage plays from this list. So please keep your comments coming on this list and feel free to build your own on Listopia: that's why it's there for you.

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message 23: by Reese (last edited Oct 03, 2011 06:57AM) (new)

Oct 03, 2011 06:55AM

David,

Thank you for explaining the purpose of this list and the process that led to its creation.

My own list of the top 100 stage plays would not match this list, but I realize that this list is not an invitation to the entire GR community to turn the list into an unlimited number of "top" plays. I hope that your message (#23) will encourage GR members to vote only for works on the Serious Literature Group's list and discourage voters from attempting to make the list something other than it was meant to be.

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message 24: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Oct 03, 2011 08:15AM

David - do you want the titles not on the original list removed?

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message 25: by David (new)

Oct 03, 2011 09:11AM

Dear Susanna,
Yes, please -- Chaucer's "Miller's Tale" from the Canterbury Tales is not a stage play, for example, but appears in our Top 100 Poems List and does belong there as it is great. But Mel Brooks in the Top 100 Stage Plays of All Time? Or Neil Simon, really? "The Frogs" by Aristophenes is on our group's original list and should stay. A few of the other adds are quite interesting and I wish we had them earlier. Thank you for your help, Susanna.

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message 26: by Reese (new)

Oct 03, 2011 10:01AM

David wrote: "Or Neil Simon, really?"

David,
I'm, of course, not among those who have voted for plays that are not on the Serious Literature Group's list; and I think that the members who voted for a few of Neil Simon's plays did not select his best works. But in response to your comment in message #26, I want to say: "No Neil Simon, really?"

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message 27: by David (new)

Oct 03, 2011 01:24PM

The Serious Literature Group may well be guilty off being a little too serious. I'm loving your repartee.

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message 28: by Reese (new)

Oct 03, 2011 09:57PM

David wrote: "The Serious Literature Group may well be guilty off being a little too serious.

You took the words right out of my mind. Seriously. Thank you -- seriously.

CORIOLANUS -- seriously?

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message 29: by Colin (last edited Oct 04, 2011 05:41AM) (new)

Oct 04, 2011 05:31AM

I love the list; thank you for making this! And I'm for Coriolanus haha! However, I think Peter Pan should be added as the greatest piece of children's theatre. Also, I think the time is ripe to re-evaluate Ibsen. A Doll's House and The Master Builder, as utterly excellent as they are, are more period pieces. Although they still work very well on stage, they were specific to controversies of the day. An Enemy of the People is so well done, its relevance can still rile and enlighten audiences far better than plays being written about current affairs. Also, Peer Gynt has become a more and more relevant play as theatre techniques have evolved. Both plays were hugely impactful on contemporary playwrights such as Arthur Miller. The plays that made Ibsen iconic may no longer be his best works, now that we can see them from a distance.

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message 30: by David (new)

Oct 04, 2011 07:19AM

Colin wrote: "I love the list; thank you for making this! And I'm for Coriolanus haha! However, I think Peter Pan should be added as the greatest piece of children's theatre. Also, I think the time is ripe to re..."

Dear Colin,
I think that Tayyab is building a children's book top 100 list on which "Peter Pan" rightfully belongs. I totally get your point on Ibsen and agree with it. He did have a great influence on theatre in his day and thereafter but some may pale as period pieces. Thank you for your insight and sharp perspective.

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message 31: by David (new)

Oct 04, 2011 07:21AM

Reese wrote: "David wrote: "The Serious Literature Group may well be guilty off being a little too serious.

You took the words right out of my mind. Seriously. Thank you -- seriously.

CORIOLANUS -- serio..."

There's just no accounting for taste, Reese. I mean, Shakespeare? Seriously?

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message 32: by Reese (new)

Oct 04, 2011 07:49AM

Colin & David,

I have enjoyed reading the comments posted by each of you. And Colin, I'm with you on the place that AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE deserves to get before spots are given to ADH and TMB. I have an imagination deficiency, so I can't imagine what it would take to get me to support the inclusion of CORIOLANUS on a list of the top 100 stage plays "of all time."

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message 33: by Reese (new)

Oct 04, 2011 04:58PM

David wrote: "Dear Reese,
This ship has sailed after four weeks of serious discussion about what should be on the list: the list is the list. I encourage you to start your own list -- honestly. I have voluntaril..."

David,

I believe that you may have misunderstood my intention. In responding to Colin's comments, I was simply engaging in an exchange of opinions. Your remarks in message #23 seemed to encourage discussion of the list. I wasn't attempting to get the Group to modify the list, nor am I interested in starting a new list. The site has a Best Plays or Musicals list and a Best American Plays list, and I've already voted for works on both lists.

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message 34: by Colin (last edited Oct 04, 2011 05:34PM) (new)

Oct 04, 2011 05:32PM

Haha Coriolanus is a strange play that always seems to be making a comeback. It's raw and has essentially no likeable characters, keeping it from ever become a mainstream staple,but the very real, pulsating arguments and fascinating character portrayal always spark the minds of deep Shakespeare diggers, the way something like All's Well that Ends Well does not.Olivier had massive success with it, T.S. Eliot called it Shakespeare's best tragedy, and now it's a gold star for Ralph Fienes both on stage and screen. I call it the great underdog play.

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message 35: by David (new)

Oct 04, 2011 06:17PM

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message 36: by Reese (new)

Oct 04, 2011 11:01PM

Colin wrote: "Haha Coriolanus is a strange play that always seems to be making a comeback. It's raw and has essentially no likeable characters, keeping it from ever become a mainstream staple,but the very real, ..."

Colin,
I have to admit that your passionate remarks about CORIOLANUS have shaken the scale in my head that, for many years, has had almost nothing but tedious scholarly articles sitting on it. I should see Ralph Fienes and forget "The Dialectic of Transcendence in CORIOLANUS" etc. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.

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message 37: by David (new)

Oct 26, 2011 10:32AM

Let's open this excellent list to gain the benefit of the intellectual capital of all Goodreaders based upon our list of Top 100 Stage Plays recommended by the Serious Literature Group. I'll take off the "Please Do Not Add Books" notation and see where this accessibility takes our list.

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message 38: by Michael (new)

Nov 04, 2011 10:12AM

How about Copenhagen by Michael Frayn?

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message 39: by Lowell (new)

Jan 10, 2013 04:21PM

Importance of Being Earnest #3? I read a play the other night called MURDER WITH GRACE that was as good as Wilde's overrated play.

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message 40: by Betsy (new)

Aug 04, 2013 06:15AM

I've done some community theater and so I got to add some of these to my read list on GoodReads. My favorite part out of the plays listed was the Professor in Our Town - " We have some of the oldest dirt in the world here. We're very proud of that. "

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message 41: by J (new)

Aug 05, 2013 10:38PM

Why is "Of Mice and Men" in this list?

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message 42: by David (new)

Aug 07, 2013 04:14PM

Dear Jeremiah,
Thanks. Deleted. It's a novel.

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message 43: by Anna (new)

Aug 08, 2013 06:12AM

So it's OK to add books to this list? I would like to add Miss Julie, Faust and The Inspector General

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message 44: by Colin (new)

Aug 08, 2013 10:56AM

Those are terrific recommendations, Anna!

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message 45: by David (last edited Aug 08, 2013 03:50PM) (new)

Aug 08, 2013 03:49PM

Dear Julie,
Yes, we opened up the list to everyone after a while.
Feel free to make additions as long as they're great stage plays. Love "Faust": Part I is already there at #20.
Cordially,
David

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message 46: by Sebastian (new)

Sep 05, 2013 07:10PM

Hm... can it be I haven't read enough plays? or is that I've forgotten that many?

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message 47: by Pamela (last edited Sep 14, 2013 03:52AM) (new)

Sep 14, 2013 03:48AM

Surely an indication of how great a play is would be how often it is performed regardless of age? The best of the Shakespeare canon is continuously performed worldwide. 'Antigone' despite being over three thousand years old can still be seen in the original or as Seamus Heaney's re-working of it in many a theatres repertoire. But Aristophanes 'The Frogs' ? Really? When was the last time anyone actually saw a performance of The Frogs? It may still be studied in Classics/Literature classes, but a play is meant to be watched not just read.The test of a great play is in performance and The Frogs doesn't hold up. For that reason I think Neil Simon,who was somewhat maligned here, would be a better choice than Aristophanes. Come on admit it, you'd rather watch Brighton Beach Memoirs any day :D Viv 'The Frivolous Literature Group'

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message 48: by Pamela (new)

Sep 14, 2013 04:20AM

Colin wrote: "I love the list; thank you for making this! And I'm for Coriolanus haha! However, I think Peter Pan should be added as the greatest piece of children's theatre. Also, I think the time is ripe to re..."

I have to disagree with regards to A Doll's House I have just seen The Young Vic's production of A Doll's House with a new translation by Simon Stephens and both my friend and I were surprised at how relevant the play still is, even to a modern audience. Coriolanus gets my vote, there is going to be a great new production at The Donmar in November, the hottest ticket in London this year!

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message 49: by Marisa (new)

Oct 16, 2016 03:50PM

Thanks for this.

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message 50: by Shyam (new)

Feb 06, 2017 05:47PM

Thanks for the top 100 stage plays. I have English Literature Exam in India. I have to read all these stories now to crack the exam. Thanks for your help From Shyam Reddy http://readwritelistenspeak.com/meton...
I will be coming back to read this stuff again and again.

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