←Recommendations of Next Year, Transformers! (Ten Minute)

07.04.26 - Reading this play I couldn't help but get caught up in Kyle's dilemma. He's always 2 steps behind in everything. His relationship with his ex. His relationship with his son. Basically, Kyle is treading relationship waters and is sinking fast. Paul Donnelly gives us a man who tries to do the right thing in all the wrong ways, and that couldn't be a more universal truth for all of us. We're all just treading those waters trying to keep afloat. Let's hope he catches Melissa's lifeline.

From the opening, I knew that once was going to tug at the heart strings. The struggle of the non-custodial parent is real and truly takes a lot of work to get through it successfully. NEXT YEAR, TRANSFORMERS allows us to see the promise of change that's possible.

I was instantly intrigued by the title of this piece, but it in no way prepared me for the emotional roller coaster of the next ten minutes. There were some great laughs, but more gasps and sad truths about family dynamics and just how complicated they can be. People will really relate to this piece.

This is such a wonderfully flawed and human play. Two people who have an entangled history, trying to make the future right, despite their missteps along the way. Absolutely beautiful and strong emotional moments with important lessons to be learned.

I loved the juxtaposition of having such heavy material for a discussion wrapped in Star Wars costumery. The characters, despite their lack of amity toward each other, are united in their desire to keep the relationship going with their son, and are willing to work together to do so. Not a bad lesson for a lot of divorced parents to learn. And it's done with gentle charm and humor. Great job Paul!

Despite the sad subject of divorce and how it can affect children and their relationship with their parents at its heart, this is a really beautiful piece. Its easy to embrace the idea of divorced parent characters hating each other but here Paul has created a lovely relationship with them where, despite being exasperated, Melissa is willing to help Kyle build a relationship with his son. Paul has taken something that could be dark and sad and made into something touching with moments of great humour!

A lovely short play. I felt myself rooting for each of them at different points throughout the piece; that's always a good sign. Easy to stage, fun costumes. A perfectly human and humorous play for Halloween, or any time. Well done.

WOW! What an honest and powerful interaction between two adults just trying to make the world fit - one with her shit together, and one hopefully starting to get it.

Playwright Paul Donnelly writes yet another punch-in-the-gut two-hander, about two estranged parents struggling to find commonality and do what is right for their son. Not your typical Halloween play, and that's a good thing! Written with great craft and care, you will find yourself rooting for all the characters as Donnelly explores every nuance of co- parenting, step-parenting, and how to be there for your child. Bravo.

This play opens with a grown man sobbing in a Darth Vader costume, and I knew immediately that it was going to be great. This short about a divorced couple trying to navigate parenting their eight-year-old son is both funny and poignant. It does a good job presenting the complexity of blended families without sacrificing humor. It would be a very strong piece in a night of shorts!