←Recommendations of Family Visitation (Ten Minute)

PAUL DONNELLY’s play, “Family Visitation (Ten Minute), is so poignant, and yet, so touching of a true love of the roommate who comes for a final farewell. I felt the helplessness of one who only wanted a quick goodbye, the tragedy of an unforgiving Mother’s wishes, and the hidden agenda of the nurse.

Randy’s grief is amplified by the callousness and cruelty of someone claiming to be acting out of Christian love and responsibility to her patient. The specifics of Donnelly’s scenario was all too real during the 80s and 90s, but sadly, the general hostility by self-proclaimed “good” people continues today. This play needs to be seen and experienced. It is heartbreaking and powerfully written. Bravo!

This play is set against the backdrop of the AIDS epidemic, exploring themes of love, loss, and the challenges faced by those affected by the disease. The narrative delves into the emotional complexities of love and the profound impact of losing a partner to a terminal illness. The moral dilemma faced by Estelle adds depth, prompting reflection on ethical choices in challenging situations. Overall, “Family Visitation” successfully prompts reflection on the human experience in the face of adversity.

Paul Donnelly had written a ten-minute two-hander with heartbreaking realism with FAMILY VISITATION, set in the not-too-distant past. I’ve known enough people like Estelle and just feel crushed for Randy and the love of his life. How does one recover from something as real and heavy as this? You’ve made me feel something, that’s for certain

This was so devastating. Paul Donnelly’s beautifully written and frustratingly realistic depiction of the discrimination against same-sex partners during the AIDS epidemic is a must read. The anguish felt by Randy is palpable. And the ending… This play may be set during the 1980s, but it is, sadly, very much relevant today. Outstanding!

I just finished this and I’m heartbroken. Absolutely gutted by this piece. Paul, you have created an entire story with such depth in such a small period of time that it is a wonder. Marvelous writing.

Let us never forget the AIDS crisis and the emotional toll it took on families and partners. Donnelly's piece is a perfect time capsule to that era and he provides a strong gut punch to our sensibilities. This is a most powerful play. It literally left me breathless.

Donnelly has developed a heart wrenching story that holds so much importance. I the dialogue is so profound and powerful that it packs a strong punch. Donnelly brings so much emotion that you will be invested until the very end.

This ten minute play by Paul Donnelly will give you a punch in the gut. "He’s my family. And I’m his." Fine work. Easy to stage, not easy to forget.

People like the villain of this piece don't believe they're doing evil; they believe they are doing the right thing. It's a heartbreaking reminder of a time when families who rejected their sons because of their sexuality could could swoop in to exclude lovers, friends, and "roommates," when that son died of HIV/AIDS. Marriage equality has given us some protections, but there are people out there who would return us to the bad old days when gatekeepers could turn away precisely the people who need to be present at a loved one's passing. Fine and necessary work. Thank you.