Recommendations of Tis True, Ma (Ten Minute)

  • Karen Fix Curry: Tis True, Ma (Ten Minute)

    This is a terrific conflict triangle of Mother, son, and his lover, each with their prejudices and pride, trying to make the others understand. Set at Stonewall, it highlights the beliefs of two generations, both entrenched in their beliefs, hoping for understanding. A poignant and deeply moving piece of theatre. A joy for three actors to play.

    This is a terrific conflict triangle of Mother, son, and his lover, each with their prejudices and pride, trying to make the others understand. Set at Stonewall, it highlights the beliefs of two generations, both entrenched in their beliefs, hoping for understanding. A poignant and deeply moving piece of theatre. A joy for three actors to play.

  • Jacquelyn Floyd-Priskorn: Tis True, Ma (Ten Minute)

    An absolutely lovely snapshot of history from the perspective of people it may have affected the most. Powerful and informative. Great characters to play as well.

    An absolutely lovely snapshot of history from the perspective of people it may have affected the most. Powerful and informative. Great characters to play as well.

  • Ryan Vaughan: Tis True, Ma (Ten Minute)

    Absolutely beautiful piece. I had read the synopsis but found myself really hoping that I had read it wrong and everything would turn out right in the end. Unfortunately that is not the case. But works like this that show the raw pain on the LGBTQ+ community are needed. And this piece is beautiful.

    Absolutely beautiful piece. I had read the synopsis but found myself really hoping that I had read it wrong and everything would turn out right in the end. Unfortunately that is not the case. But works like this that show the raw pain on the LGBTQ+ community are needed. And this piece is beautiful.

  • Sam Heyman: Tis True, Ma (Ten Minute)

    Locked between his obligations to his Catholic, Irish family and his loyalty to his embittered, ex-Catholic lover, Kevin O'Connor has quite a choice to make. However, the choice is less about whose side Kevin takes than what Kevin is willing to tolerate when it comes to disrespect about who he is and the life he wants to live.

    Paul Donnelly's "Tis True, Ma" navigates the challenge of queer people who come out later in life to not just receive the acceptance they crave, but to demand the respect they deserve with cultural specificity and heart. Excellent work.

    Locked between his obligations to his Catholic, Irish family and his loyalty to his embittered, ex-Catholic lover, Kevin O'Connor has quite a choice to make. However, the choice is less about whose side Kevin takes than what Kevin is willing to tolerate when it comes to disrespect about who he is and the life he wants to live.

    Paul Donnelly's "Tis True, Ma" navigates the challenge of queer people who come out later in life to not just receive the acceptance they crave, but to demand the respect they deserve with cultural specificity and heart. Excellent work.

  • Adam Richter: Tis True, Ma (Ten Minute)

    There is a depressing stubbornness to hate, and what makes it worse is when such bigotry is on display in one's own family. Kevin's mother sticks to her rigid notions of what it means to be Irish, to the point of alienating her gay son. It would lead to a heartbreaking ending but for the choice that Kevin makes that gives him, and the audience, hope.

    Paul Donnelly packs a ton of thoughtful commentary into this short play with great dialogue and vivid characters. Well done!

    There is a depressing stubbornness to hate, and what makes it worse is when such bigotry is on display in one's own family. Kevin's mother sticks to her rigid notions of what it means to be Irish, to the point of alienating her gay son. It would lead to a heartbreaking ending but for the choice that Kevin makes that gives him, and the audience, hope.

    Paul Donnelly packs a ton of thoughtful commentary into this short play with great dialogue and vivid characters. Well done!

  • John Busser: Tis True, Ma (Ten Minute)

    Prejudice is always ugly, and never uglier when it concerns members of family. Paul Donnelly gives us a mother and son who have been butting heads on his lifestyle choices, with neither one backing down, in true Irish fashion. Kevin's attempts to gain her acceptance of him and his lover Michael while visiting the Stonewall Inn don't go as planned, but when do they ever? There is a breakthrough of sorts between the two men however that shows even smaller victories can be just as satisfying.

    Prejudice is always ugly, and never uglier when it concerns members of family. Paul Donnelly gives us a mother and son who have been butting heads on his lifestyle choices, with neither one backing down, in true Irish fashion. Kevin's attempts to gain her acceptance of him and his lover Michael while visiting the Stonewall Inn don't go as planned, but when do they ever? There is a breakthrough of sorts between the two men however that shows even smaller victories can be just as satisfying.

  • Julie Zaffarano: Tis True, Ma (Ten Minute)

    Even when you are at a mature age and know who you are, you can still long for a parent’s acceptance. Paul Donnelly shows us that understanding and accepting ourselves is the greatest gift we can give.

    Even when you are at a mature age and know who you are, you can still long for a parent’s acceptance. Paul Donnelly shows us that understanding and accepting ourselves is the greatest gift we can give.

  • Elan Garonzik: Tis True, Ma (Ten Minute)

    A heartbreaking piece that pulls you in two ways -- objecting to the mother's prejudices, but also welcoming the gay lovers partnership & how important it is to them to see at Stonewall the openly gay Irish Prime Minister. Short, but packs a punch. Very moving.

    A heartbreaking piece that pulls you in two ways -- objecting to the mother's prejudices, but also welcoming the gay lovers partnership & how important it is to them to see at Stonewall the openly gay Irish Prime Minister. Short, but packs a punch. Very moving.

  • Liz Dooley: Tis True, Ma (Ten Minute)

    Donnelly wonderfully captures the difficult balance between loving your culture, and hating the way it influences your loved ones and their beliefs. This play gives one hope that we ARE moving away from hatred, however slowly or with whatever difficulty it may take. Well done!

    Donnelly wonderfully captures the difficult balance between loving your culture, and hating the way it influences your loved ones and their beliefs. This play gives one hope that we ARE moving away from hatred, however slowly or with whatever difficulty it may take. Well done!

  • Cheryl Bear: Tis True, Ma (Ten Minute)

    The effort to gain acceptance from those you loved who may not evolve is a heartbreaking one. Well done.

    The effort to gain acceptance from those you loved who may not evolve is a heartbreaking one. Well done.