# What is Shakespeare's most underrated play? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 7, 2016, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783 "2016-06-07T23:14:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783/1 "2016-06-07T23:14:54Z")
[We voted back in 2010](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=588706)and Hamlet was clearly the winner in the “best play” selection. I agree and would go further and say Hamlet is the greatest work in English literature. In our vote back in 2010, King Lear was the runner up and Macbeth was right up there. Kind of predictable. What play of Shakespeare’s is the most underrated, though? Why do you think so? **Twelfth Night** is my pick. It is a wonderful play and could be the masterpiece of many other authors. It has some of the funniest moments in Shakespeare and I think Malvolio’s moment smiling, wearing yellow socks, and cross garters one of the funniest moments on stage. You? ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783/2 "2016-06-07T23:34:17Z")
My favorite Shakespeare play is _A Midsummer Night’s Dream_. I don’t think it’s underrated, necessarily, but maybe underestimated. In general, I think the comedies are under-taught, and if _A Midsummer Night’s Dream_ were taught in high school instead of the OVERrated _Romeo and Juliet_, more people might discover they like Shakespeare. A play I enjoy, and hardly ever get to see produced, is\* Troilus and Cressida\*. I think Cassandra is a great character role for a young women who isn’t a Juliet. But I’ve been told that I’m alone in my love of this play. It would be my pick for “underrated,” if I weren’t worried about getting laughed at. Personally, I know lots of people who love _Twelfth Night_, so I don’t know if it’s really underrated. I’m going to say that _All’s Well that End’s Well_ is probably underrated, because of all the plays, it least lends itself to being read, and most needs to be seen, well-acted. It needs to be carefully cast and have a strong director, then it can be a great play, but it can fall apart as an amateur show. _Hamlet_ is a great work of literature, and it reads well; _All’s Well that End’s Well_ does not read well, and can leave the reader puzzled over fundamental things, like why the main love interests would ever be attracted to one another. However, cast two actors who are reasonably attractive, have on-stage chemistry, and talent, and it needs no explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783/3 "2016-06-07T23:38:37Z")
I wouldn’t call _Twelfth Night_ underrated; it’s one of the two Shakespeare plays in the _Norton Anthology of English Literature_ and thus, easily one of the ones most commonly taught at the undergraduate level. I’d also bet that it’s somewhere in the top ten most frequently performed, and there are at least half a dozen versions available on film. My pick would be _Measure for Measure_ – it’s got a plot that resonates in almost any era (“hypocritical family values politician gets caught in a sex scandal”) and lots of knotty, complicated questions about law, religion, and human frailty, plus one of Shakespeare’s most eloquent and outspoken female characters. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783/4 "2016-06-07T23:49:31Z")
I think it’s hard to call any of Shakespeare’s plays underrated: I mean, they’re all Shakespeare, and everyone knows that. Though I suppose that the title might go to one of the less well-known ones like _The Winter’s Tale_ or _Troilus and Cressida_. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783/5 "2016-06-08T00:00:43Z")
I thought _A Winters Tale_ is a wonderful play, with it’s change of tone from intense tragedy to comedy. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783/6 "2016-06-08T06:56:28Z")
Titus Andronicus. Anything with cannibalism, I’m in! ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783/7 "2016-06-08T07:43:46Z")
> [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > My pick would be _Measure for Measure_ – it’s got a plot that resonates in almost any era (“hypocritical family values politician gets caught in a sex scandal”) and lots of knotty, complicated questions about law, religion, and human frailty, plus one of Shakespeare’s most eloquent and outspoken female characters. I really like _Measure for Measure_, so I could see that. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783/8 "2016-06-08T08:03:06Z")
_Omelet: The Musical_ How can you not love: _You make wine from sour grapes! Ya got a flat pancake? Hey! Call it a crepe! When life gives you eggs, make an omelet!_ Sadly, hardly anyone did… ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783/9 "2016-06-08T16:31:28Z")
Henry IV, part I. Some of the history plays tend to get overlooked, especially if they come in two or more parts. It’s hard to think of a better Shakespeare play outwith his major tragedies; Falstaff, teenage angst, comedy, drama, Prince Hal, Harry Hotspur and more Falstaff. Just the right amount of high & low, comedy & drama. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783/10 "2016-06-08T16:56:25Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I think it’s hard to call any of Shakespeare’s plays underrated: I mean, they’re all Shakespeare, and everyone knows that. That’s what came to mind when I saw the thread title. Shakespeare’s plays are more likely to be overrated than under just by having his name them. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783/11 "2016-06-08T17:03:08Z")
I say Cymbaline. It’s a fantastic play with great characters and sparkling dialogue that, for whatever reason, no one really knows. I love A Winter’s Tale, and that was almost my knee jerk answer, but there are really good reasons why that play is less well known (even though the bear is awesome! It’s a good read, but it’s actually a better read than it is a performance piece). But I don’t know why Cymbaline isn’t as well known as Romeo and Juliet or Othello. It’s every bit as good (maybe better than R&J). ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783/12 "2016-06-08T17:22:07Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#): > > Henry IV, part I. > > Some of the history plays tend to get overlooked, especially if they come in two or more parts. It’s hard to think of a better Shakespeare play outwith his major tragedies; Falstaff, teenage angst, comedy, drama, Prince Hal, Harry Hotspur and more Falstaff. Just the right amount of high & low, comedy & drama. Yes, this is a play everyone should experience. It’s got everything, with great lines and great characters, but it never shows up in the top ten lists. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783/13 "2016-06-08T17:24:18Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#): > > Henry IV, part I. > > Some of the history plays tend to get overlooked, especially if they come in two or more parts. It’s hard to think of a better Shakespeare play outwith his major tragedies; Falstaff, teenage angst, comedy, drama, Prince Hal, Harry Hotspur and more Falstaff. Just the right amount of high & low, comedy & drama. This was my backup pick, along with Part 2. I guess I should have picked it since people think 12th Night is not that underrated. Henry IV is awesome. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783/14 "2016-06-08T17:33:52Z")
I’m also fond of _Titus Andronicus._ Sex, violence, adultery, rape, murder, cannibalism, this play has it all. In most plays, when there is a fight scene, the stage directions state who dies. In _Titus Andronicus_, for the big climactic fight, the stage directions state who survives. And it’s a short list. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783/15 "2016-06-08T17:49:07Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Yes, this is a play everyone should experience. It’s got everything, with great lines and great characters, but it never shows up in the top ten lists. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > This was my backup pick, along with Part 2. I guess I should have picked it since people think 12th Night is not that underrated. > > Henry IV is awesome. I do enjoy part 2 as well. Part 2 is overlooked even more than part I. There is a really terrific version filmed at the Globe of both plays with Roger Allam as a wonderful Falstaff. They were both on youtube but were pulled for copyright reason. I believe they are available on the Globe website for a small fee. A small taster below: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znvZ2WAa3OI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znvZ2WAa3OI) ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783/16 "2016-06-08T17:55:16Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > I say Cymbaline. It’s a fantastic play with great characters and sparkling dialogue that, for whatever reason, no one really knows. > > I love A Winter’s Tale, and that was almost my knee jerk answer, but there are really good reasons why that play is less well known (even though the bear is awesome! It’s a good read, but it’s actually a better read than it is a performance piece). But I don’t know why Cymbaline isn’t as well known as Romeo and Juliet or Othello. It’s every bit as good (maybe better than R&J). Cymbeline is by far my favorite of his plays. Leonatus’ line telling Imogen to hold on to him like fruit on a tree gets to me every time. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783/17 "2016-06-08T18:03:20Z")
I’d go with _The Merchant of Venice_. I’m a big Portia fan. 🙂 The histories are just too dry and dull. (This coming from someone who’s read his Complete Works from cover to cover.) ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783/18 "2016-06-08T18:39:08Z")
I’d say _Troilus and Cressida_. Written around the same time as _Hamlet_ and showing the same absolute mastery of language Shakespeare is on fire here, the words and conceits (ie imagery) come thick and fast and leave the auditor or reader spellbound. The prefatory epistle to the quarto edition states that the play was “never clapperclawed by the palms of the vulgar”, ie never actually staged, perhaps for the reason that it would have been ‘caviare to the general’, unappreciated by the general public. It’s one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783/19 "2016-06-08T18:53:45Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > I’d say _Troilus and Cressida_. Written around the same time as _Hamlet_ and showing the same absolute mastery of language Shakespeare is on fire here, the words and conceits (ie imagery) come thick and fast and leave the auditor or reader spellbound. The prefatory epistle to the quarto edition states that the play was “never clapperclawed by the palms of the vulgar”, ie never actually staged, perhaps for the reason that it would have been ‘caviare to the general’, unappreciated by the general public. > > It’s one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. I love it too, but I have to admit I’ve never seen a staged version. It’s another play, like Winters Tale, that makes me wonder about how viable it is as an actual stage play. Though what do I know, I wouldn’t think Hamlet would actually work as a stage play if I hadn’t seen it so maybe I’m too narrow minded. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783/20 "2016-06-08T19:25:08Z")
I am very fond of _Richard III_. It’s historically inaccurate, but can be very entertaining. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shakespeares-most-underrated-play/756783.md?page=2)