The Independent Recommends: The Five Best Plays

Good (Donmar Warehouse, London)

Starring Charles Dance, CP Taylor's play about accommodations with conscience is revived in a sensitive production by Michael Grandage. To 22 May

Making Noise Quietly (Whitehall Theatre, London)

Very welcome West End run for Deborah Bruce's lovely poetic revival of Robert Holman's sensitive triptych about the emotional effects of war. To 22 May

Mamma Mia!

(Prince Edward Theatre, London)

Designed to bring out the Dancing Queen in the straightest soul, this silly, enjoyable compilation musical (right) finds flagrant plot excuses for 27 Abba golden oldies. Booking to 11 Sept

Volpone (Swan Theatre, Stratford)

Comedies don't come any funnier or more astringent than Ben Jonson's brilliant dissection of avaricious, over-reaching egotism. To 9 Oct

A Midsummer Night's Dream (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford)

In Michael Boyd's beguiling staging, Josette Simon's Amazonian Titania is sex-on-very-long-legs and could devour Tina Turner for breakfast. To 9 Oct