←Recommendations of Talking Points

  • Rachel Bublitz: Talking Points by Steven Hayet
    “

    Any play that can put tears in my eyes in under ten pages is special, this one did it more than once, and I was just reading it to myself in my office. This play would rock a holiday festival, as it is as funny as it is touching and sweet. Really well written, Grandma's for the win!

    Any play that can put tears in my eyes in under ten pages is special, this one did it more than once, and I was just reading it to myself in my office. This play would rock a holiday festival, as it is as funny as it is touching and sweet. Really well written, Grandma's for the win!

    ”
  • Claudia Haas: Talking Points by Steven Hayet
    “

    I now think every Thanksgiving dinner should start with each family member reciting a prepared statement on a notecard. This romantic-anti-romantic comedy is a charmer. I love how when it veers on sweetness (and Grandma's monologue touches ye olde heartstrings), it changes course. It's brimming over with love, silliness and cranberry stuffing. Sounds like a perfect Thanksgiving to me.

    I now think every Thanksgiving dinner should start with each family member reciting a prepared statement on a notecard. This romantic-anti-romantic comedy is a charmer. I love how when it veers on sweetness (and Grandma's monologue touches ye olde heartstrings), it changes course. It's brimming over with love, silliness and cranberry stuffing. Sounds like a perfect Thanksgiving to me.

    ”
  • Jordan Elizabeth Henry: Talking Points by Steven Hayet
    “

    This play is so freakin sweet! Jeeze louise. Hayet never fails to make me laugh (this play had me laughing at the very first line), but there is a depth of familial love and understanding in this piece that pushes his normal wit and timing into a different dimension. It's just charming. And gosh, don't we all wish we could have a brief, succinct press conference with family after a significant life event?

    This play is so freakin sweet! Jeeze louise. Hayet never fails to make me laugh (this play had me laughing at the very first line), but there is a depth of familial love and understanding in this piece that pushes his normal wit and timing into a different dimension. It's just charming. And gosh, don't we all wish we could have a brief, succinct press conference with family after a significant life event?

    ”
  • Rachel Bykowski: Talking Points by Steven Hayet
    “

    A sweet, short play about navigating the chaos that comes with the holidays and family gatherings. A great observation about how people often feel the need to pry into other people's business, the importance of privacy, and controlling the narrative.

    A sweet, short play about navigating the chaos that comes with the holidays and family gatherings. A great observation about how people often feel the need to pry into other people's business, the importance of privacy, and controlling the narrative.

    ”
  • Kelly McBurnette-Andronicos: Talking Points by Steven Hayet
    “

    In the age of carefully controlled public narratives and high-profile political downfalls, this gem of a play really hits the target. It's everything that's funny about forced and contrived press conferences - only set at a family's Thanksgiving dinner. What a fun play."

    In the age of carefully controlled public narratives and high-profile political downfalls, this gem of a play really hits the target. It's everything that's funny about forced and contrived press conferences - only set at a family's Thanksgiving dinner. What a fun play."

    ”
  • Ricardo Soltero-Brown: Talking Points by Steven Hayet
    “

    This dazzling charmer by Steven Hayet brings to mind the short comedies of Anton Chekhov, some of my favorite writings. Mike's formality is both too much for his own good and it's absolutely what's most endearing about him; perhaps that's why it reminds me of Chekhov: it is and it isn't his fault. The whole thing is a lesson in humor. The ultimate moment of clarity, the revealing explanation, the bit about the five-year plans had me laughing so hard that I lost my place.

    This dazzling charmer by Steven Hayet brings to mind the short comedies of Anton Chekhov, some of my favorite writings. Mike's formality is both too much for his own good and it's absolutely what's most endearing about him; perhaps that's why it reminds me of Chekhov: it is and it isn't his fault. The whole thing is a lesson in humor. The ultimate moment of clarity, the revealing explanation, the bit about the five-year plans had me laughing so hard that I lost my place.

    ”
  • Asher Wyndham: Talking Points by Steven Hayet
    “

    I've never read a play before that can work so well as a multi-character play or a solo play. As a solo, 'Talking Points' could be a different play: the character could be practicing, going over his talking points, before Thanksgiving dinner. As a solo, it'd be a great challenge for an actor to create five others characters with distinct voices and reactions. And it would be hilarious! Structuring the play as a 'press conference' distinguishes it from other holiday plays.

    I've never read a play before that can work so well as a multi-character play or a solo play. As a solo, 'Talking Points' could be a different play: the character could be practicing, going over his talking points, before Thanksgiving dinner. As a solo, it'd be a great challenge for an actor to create five others characters with distinct voices and reactions. And it would be hilarious! Structuring the play as a 'press conference' distinguishes it from other holiday plays.

    ”