←Recommendations of Childish Things

Childish Things is a heartbreaking and poignant play where a father’s attempt to reconnect with his estranged daughter through childhood toys adds layers of absurdity and sorrow. The unique concept and emotional depth make this short piece deeply memorable and thought-provoking. A must-read.

Deeply sorrowful is CHILDISH THINGS. A sort of toy gallows humor augments the complex absurdist mood. I admire the repetition of the dinosaur jokes that Teddy makes, how they gauge the growing desperation of Jerry as he tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter Rachel to give her some very bad news. The theme of trying to fix an adult catastrophe with toy surrogates is an important one as we become more and more accustomed to virtual realities and AI companions that Teddy and Bunny foreshadow. Arthur Jolly is a major talent.

I found this play equally engaging and moving, I can't help feel sorry for Jerry in his situation, trying to break his sad news to his daughter in such an odd way. A lovely short piece which still leaves me pondering....

A cathartic and moving expression as a father works up to telling his daughter something you'd hope he'd never have to. Excellent work.

This is a fascinating play. It's not quite funny, but it's not quite sad, it falls somewhere in between--and when it truly turns to Rachel, when she gets the floor to speak, Jolly has given her simply one of the best monologues I've ever read. There is so much happening in this ten minute play. It's utterly breathless, and just as beautiful as it is ugly. A true masterpiece.

An original, heartbreaking, painful play about a father-daughter relationship. Memorable. It showcases the quirky imagination of its writer. There's a powerful monologue for an actress at the end of the play that's perfect for auditioning.