I was fortunate enough to read and respond to this play at the 2024 Mid-America Theater Conference. This piece captures the complexity of emotions that come with losing an estranged loved one ... the moments when good memories resurface ... and the recurring pain of remembering time lost. David Lipschutz uses language beautifully to underscore the story. Highly recommend.

I was lucky enough to see this piece at the 2024 Mid-America Theatre Conference. This play powerfully explores the complexities of grieving someone you loved, but had a challenging relationship with. It also gently introduces the audience to some facets of Jewish culture that they might not be familiar with. I appreciated how deftly the play swings from emotionally searing to some more light-hearted humor. A great addition to any 10-minute play festival!

Why do we so often wait to make amends until it’s too late? David Lipschutz has written a quietly moving play about the regret of estrangement, the grief of not only lost life but lost relationship, and the family bonds that transcend it all.

Lipschutz captures universal human foibles through the specific lens of Orthodox Jewish tradition. The symmetry of the titular SHOMER’s story is beautiful and profound: religion came between his brother, and in the end, religion becomes his means to say a much needed goodbye (even if he’s out of practice). Touching and smart.