Through relationships both delicate and hardened, Meaker deftly weaves a classical but modern tale of sisterhood, isolation and horrific violence. Frightening and all-too-real.

Meaker is an absolutely top-notch writer, who combines high-concept world building with psychologically complex characters. "Bell at the Back of Her Throat" is high tragedy filtered through horror and suspense, a bracing condemnation of the insidious creep of misogyny. A gorgeously theatrical cry from the heart, as intelligent as it is frightening.

After an apocalypse (?), a small town is isolated from the world as it defends itself against outside forces. People - women - are going missing, two young girls become witches, and the tight relationships of the town are put under strain.

The air of mystery is engaging, but the star here is the characters and relationships. They are built in both word and action, and become people I care about and miss when the lights come down. Even without the "hook", this is a strong piece about community, and with it the play speaks clearly as political allegory.