THE FIVE BEST PLAYS

Mary Poppins

(Prince Edward Theatre, London)

Directed with huge flair by Richard Eyre, this gives new depths to the material, in what emerges as the year's most joyous musical. (020-7447 5400) to 24 Sept

The Producers (Drury Lane Theatre Royal, London)

Mel Brooks's glorious stage musical zaps along mit der bang, mit der boom, mit der bing-bang, bing-bang boom. (0870 890 1109) to 25 Oct

Festen

(Lyric Theatre, London)

Cracking production, by Rufus Norris, of the Dogme drama about an ill-fated family celebration. Paul Nicholls stars. (0870 890 1107) to 9 Apr

ZThe Winter's Tale (Watermill, Newbury)

Following their Shakespeare History cycle, Edward Hall's all-male Propeller return with this beautiful late romance. (01635 46044) to 19 Mar

Don Carlos

(Gielgud Theatre, London)

Friedrich Schiller's epic, maze-like romantic tragedy, with Derek Jacobi relishing his role as Philip II of Spain. (0870 890 1105) to 30 Apr

AND ONE TO AVOID...

Saturday Night Fever (Apollo Victoria, London)

Stage adaptation of the musical, with routines that are more Saturday- night TV than fever. It's a tragedy.