TOP 10

Now that my 2009 theatergoing is over (yes, I am going to make in until January 2 without seeing anything!), I can decide on my picks for the best of London theater in 2010, which was a very good year for new plays.
1. THE GREAT GAME: AFGHANISTAN. Actually 14 plays in one day by osme of the best British playwrights performed by a very strong acting ensemble. Tricycle Theatre
2. WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING by Andrew Upton. Almeida Theatre.
3. JERUSALEM by Jez Butterworth. Royal Court
4. ENRON by Lucy Prebble. Chichester Theatre Festival
5. TUSK TUSK by Poly Stenham. Royal Court
6. PORNOGRAPHY by Simon Stephens. Tricycle Theatre.
7. COCK by Mike Bartlett. Royal Court Theatre
8. BE NEAR ME by Ian McDairmid. Donmar Warehouse, co-production with National Theatre of Scotland.
9. THE HABIT OF ART by Alan Bennett. National Theatre
10. WIG OUT by Tarrell Alvin McCraney. Royal Court Theatre

REVIVALS
I find at this stage of my life that I am less interested in seeing revivals, particularly of plays I have seen before (yes, even Shakespeare!) than I am in seeing new work. Nonetheless, in no particular order of preference, here is my list of the most impressive revivals of 2009
TIME AND THE CONWAYS by J.B. Priestley directed by Rupert Goold. National Theatre.
AS YOU LIKE IT, directed by Dominic Dromgoole. Shakespeare's Globe
WAITING FOR GODOT by Samuel Beckett, directed by Sean Mathias
ARCADIA by Tom Stoppard, directed by David Leveaux
CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF by Tennessee Williams, directed by Debbie Allen
Although the productions weren't earth shaking, I was happy to see revivals of Terrence Rattigan's THE WINSLOW BOY (Rose Theatre, Kingston) and Noel Coward's A SONG AT TWILIGHT (Richmond Theatre)