←Recommendations of Talking Points

STEVEN HAYET takes us to a Thanksgiving Dinner in which Mike has something important to say. With a bit of flair, you can almost hear a drumroll as he tells his family he’s important news. The short play is filled with humor, pathos, and unexpected twists. I recommend “Talking Points”. It will certainly be a crowd pleaser.

Steven Hayet combines a unique take with a familiar setup -- a tough conversation over holiday dinner -- and subverts what we think might happen. Talking Points is stylish, funny, and genuinely sweet.

Would that we all could share the uncomfortable family conversations in a press junket rather than awkward mumbling around the table! Fun, funny, breezy, and clever! A fantastic holiday short that works anytime of the year!

Mike's unique approach to sharing his news with his family is an amusing conceit rendered with great wit. The response of each well-drawn family member rings true and advances the narrative from pure hilarity to warmth and genuine connection. This is a very funny play with a very big heart.

Hayet's short play subverts the expectations of the family-around-the-dinner-table genre in lots of subtle and wonderful ways. The banter is quick and witty and each character is firmly grounded in reality and in their specific quirks. I especially love how the writer deftly shifts the grandparents' reminiscences from humor to a startling poignancy that really stays with you.

Wow, what a fantastic short play--hilarious (I laughed out loud!) but also full of nuance and with delicate, poignant moments that reveal its characters' inner lives and make it very clear that lots more going on beneath the surface. Happy to see it's had many productions and hope it has many more.

This sounds like some Thanksgiving dinners I've attended. Very real and fun. And I too, loved Grandma. She speaks the truth.

All fun family characters, but Grandma is the best!

It's really hard to find a good Thanksgiving play. This is a great one. I loved the neurotic but thorough statements from Mike, the random questions and especially the comments from the kids table. A very funny but ultimately touching tale of family relations.

I had the pleasure of seeing a recorded production of this play by LaSalle High School, and it was a delight! The kids seemed to have fun with the characters, the arc is clear and clean, and the end is heartwarming. Just the thing we need in these tough times!