←Recommendations of The Call List

Instead of a family drama, this playwright found a clever way with dramatic structure to deal some difficult subjects, suicide and depression. All of it is handled through the mystery of the deceased Craig, while at same time revealing the personal, the spirit and anguish, of the speaker. This play would make for a great community production with a talkback, spotlighting suicide awareness and prevention by various groups.

This heartfelt play reminds us of the importance, and intricate impact the small encounters we have can effect our lives. Humor and tragedy beautifully dovetailed by the playwright, "The Call List" brings to the forefront circumstances that evoke laughter, empathy, tears and intrinsic thoughts into the big questions we all find ourselves facing when we examine our lives. I look forward to this plays upcoming production.

So blown away reading this script. It's such a detailed, slice of life play. It gives us an incredibly focused look into the lives of the protagonist, the folks she's calling, and the dead man she's calling about, all in a one person show! Highly recommend this show. It's funny and sad in all the best ways.

A lovely solo show as Samantha searches for purpose/meaning in life, family and who’s on the other end of the phone. Barbara does not seem like a good/in tune boss. I wonder if she knew about Samantha’s father when she gave her this task. I wonder if Samantha allows herself to make the connection. Wonderful characters painted through one-sided phone calls. I’d be excited to see the art in production. Hopefully Samantha will get her drawings up on the coffee shop wall someday too.

An incredible piece that captures the enormity of life through this work assignment and the way it pulls one through to realization. Well done.

THE CALL LIST is a beautifully understated play that tackles everything from mortality, family turmoil, and workplace stress in an astoundingly natural, and at times hilarious, way. Brian James Polak has crafted a solo show (timely, huh?) based on a familiar conceit (a one-sided phone call) that deftly avoids falling into cliches and too much exposition. A really lovely play about the sum of a life and what we leave behind... read it (and produce it!) for yourself!

I found myself reading lots of this play out loud, wanting to feel the phone calls on my lips. I was surprised at the moments of levity and real humor the writer pulled out of such an uncomfortable work assignment. I find it incredible how much story was portrayed in a string of one sided phone calls. I particularly loved the ways each call ended as they said so much. The moment I most hope to get to see on stage is Samantha listening to Father Gleeson's story as it offers an actor room for so much.