←Recommendations of Outer Banks

Dear lord, the construction of this is gorgeous. Foglia's tale of a woman's inability (or refusal) to process her grief is rooted in such a specific sense of place, with such meticulously realized and relatable characters, that only gradually do you realize it as his tale enters the realm of full-blown Southern Gothic horror. A magnificent piece of work.

A beautiful exploration of the waves of denial and agony of grief as we can't let go of the one we lost. Well done.

A beautifully rendered story about grief and the seismic ripples that reverberate with loss. I love the way the scenes bleed into one another, lending a a propulsive feel to the rhythm of the play. Junie is a compelling central figure around which the story revolves, and her loss of equilibrium makes her a sympathetic character even as she does and says things that are sad and frustrating. The other characters surrounding her are well-rendered as well, and the general sense of magic and otherworldliness that lives alongside some very natural moments creates a unique theatrical world.

A haunting play about grief, loneliness, and the pieces of ourselves we can never forgot not matter how hard we might want. The language is precise without feeling forced. Foglia does a terrific job with location, making us feel on edge, and yet caring deeply for these characters. A great play about family and loss.

Outer Banks is a dreamy play about hard grief with sharp, weird edges. The loss of a twin doubled with the estrangement from remaining family, and the strangeness of that family (raccoons, mandolins, and churches in bowling alleys all included) makes for an eerie tale of grief and redemption. An especially great play for coastal towns in the southeast, as so much of the play draws on those local ghosts.

What Foglia does that sets him apart from other writers is his precision skill when it comes to language. The music of his dialogue and imagery moves this play seamlessly between a soft dream and a hard, harsh reality. He takes a very real, very stark look at the arduous nature of grief, while somehow still managing to be hilarious. There are so many great, nuanced roles for women, too! A must read.

A haunting play about great loss and the ways in which different modes of grieving can cause conflict. Foglia's use of language is characteristically lyrical, earthy, and grounded, and he finds so much depth in these characters and their circumstances. The sense of place is impeccable, and his connection felt so deeply it becomes something like magic.

A sad, sweet ghost story about the power of the bond between twins. Full of lyrical language, this play is almost as much about what is not said. Tracking a family's struggle to cope with the mysterious disappearance of their daughter/sister/wife, we see all the ways in which it is hardest to comfort each other in the moments we need each other the most. A play full of ambiance and moodiness, than manages to be funny and heartbreaking at the same time.

Crashing upon you like waves, "Outer Banks" investigates the swirling depths of the grieving process. Through some fantastic scene work and a little bit of magic at times, this piece beautiful captures the desperation and isolation of grief and the way in which sometimes, even our best attempts at connection, fall flat. Foglia is a deft captain of the riverboat through this play.

Set in New Bern, NC and it’s environs, Foglia beautifully uses local sea-color and history to infuse this story of grief with both whimsy and fear. The fraught-ness of family grief, blame, and forgiveness is on full display here and once we think there will be catharsis we remember after such loss it might never be possible.