←Recommendations of Playing With Fired

I produced an audio play version of this script on the Gather by the Ghost Light radio theater podcast. It's a charming non-traditional holiday story with clever reveals along the way. The structure and pacing of the conversation between Mr O'Brien and Sam provide a nice set up that keeps you guessing how it will all play out, and then Hayet nails the ending with a perfect callback.

It threw me. In a good way.

One is generally supposed to root for the plucky underdog and against the corporate Boss Man. But Sam comes in with such youthful entitlement, I had to wonder who the hell she thought she was!

Which turns out to be the point! The great thing is that Hayet allows lessons to be taught and learned on both sides, signaling hope for the entitled and the powerful to see humanity in each other while finding it in themselves.

PLAYING WITH FIRED takes you on a wonderful emotional journey in the most unlikely of places. Steven Hayet's background in business also adds such rich layers of truth and authenticity to the characters as they navigate both career and self. Such a unique holiday play that deserves to be seen again and again.

A sweet show with a heartwarming ending. The characters are loveable and as a reader I want them to be happy. Very charming!

"Playing with Fired" is too much fun. I loved it from start to finish, and every twist along the way was perfect. It deserves all the honors it has received, and more.

These ponies keep partying! This show is quirky, cute, well-paced and endearing. Interesting and unexpected in its plot narrative and message, this little play is another heartfelt and an enjoyable experience from Hayet.

We produced this as part of our festival in 2019, and the audience was with the show from start to finish. Each little turn and emotional reveal played wonderfully and the characters have such a chance to come alive through the dialogue. The pacing and shifting dynamics keep this as a solid entry in any short play festival. Steven has been wonderful to work with and we hope to see more from him!

Wonderful! Funny! The twist at the end works great! Sam works really really hard to get what she wants, and that's the kind of hard work that pays off in a play, because it adds to the tension that the task is not easy, and it keeps the stakes high and shows the depth of her character and just how far she's willing to go. The twist is the icing on the cake because it seems like such a surprise, and then the ending is inevitable in retrospect. Just what you want in a 10 minute play!

What a charming piece of theatre! Bright and funny - Hayet's play has all the goods. No wonder it's an award-winner. Any team would have a field day with this one, lots of great moments and characters as warm as they are hilarious.

Such a brilliant play, full of heart and humor. I didn’t want it to end, but it felt perfect when it did. Playing With Fired would steal the show at any 10 minute festival.