←Recommendations of Twenty-Two (Dragging Angels as They Go)

Twenty-Two was one of five finalists that received readings during our annual New Year/New Plays Festival in January of 2021. A funny and moving two-hander about loss, love, war, mental health, and the unfailing hope of human connection. Intriguingly human characters in a beautiful story.

This is a brutal and gorgeous exploration of the effects of war on the human spirit. Was lucky enough to see a reading of this piece at Relative Theatrics and it brought about a lively discussion after the piece was over. It explores the huge mental health crisis that our vets are experiencing but with grace, humanity and even some humor and hope. Highly recommend this if you're looking for a small cast, high impact and beautiful piece for your audiences.

Though this play takes plays within a single scene, the story remains in perpetual motion - the reveals, reversals, and moments of character growth come rapidly as we get to know the two grieving humans at the center of the play. I was really moved by Benning's assessment about the way people perceive soldiers and veterans so differently. I also loved how every moment in the piece seemed to be imbued with a sense of deep history. The characters were incredibly well-drawn. This is a difficult story, but I am glad it was told so beautifully and affectingly here!

A shattering depiction of the aftermath of one soldier's suicide. Twenty-two is filled with vivid theatrical images, memorable turns of phrase, and two complex and compelling characters. This is an urgent story told with real urgency, nuance, and even flashes of humor.

Playwrights Foundation enthusiastically recommends this play TWENTY-TWO (Dragging Angels as They Go), as a Semi-Finalist for the Bay Area Playwrights Festival 2020. We were moved by the quality of the writing and the relevant and compelling themes that spoke to the mission of our festival. It excelled in a competitive process of 735 plays submitted this year and rose to the top after a six month long process discussing its merits with both national and local Bay Area readers, and we hope it moves swiftly towards production.

This play is beautiful in its simplicity- a personal tragedy that deeply impacts two people close to the deceased. But what emerges from their interaction is so much more complex and gripping. It's an exploration on how people process grief and begin to reemerge from under the depths of despair. You are fighting for both of these characters to heal on their own terms. A wonderful, moving piece of theatre!