←Recommendations of Stuck in the Middle

Satire is best served sharp and Braverman nails it. Everyone is roasted and heat lamped and no one is spared. Left/Right, Believers/Nonbelievers, even the immigration debate sneaks in. So much to fill your plate. Excellent dialogue speeds the play along and requires multiple readings to truly enjoy.

The concept of this play alone is enough to make one laugh out loud, but BRAVERMAN's execution heightens the comedy tenfold. From the smallest details like the "Great Slurpee Flood of Long Ago", to the overarching themes of faith and blind devotion, this play is laugh out loud funny from start to finish. A joy for audiences to watch and for creative teams to realize, you're going to want this play as a part of your next festival.

I saw a reading of this play at the 2019 Valdez Theatre Conference, so I was happy to find it here on NPX so that I could relive the silliness. Did I just refer to it as silly? Well, yes. But any play that speaks of an "Eternal Bed of Dough" obviously has its thoughtful side as well.

Absolutely bewildering in the best way. Braverman strikes a confident balance between absurdism and deep meaning, all while having loads of fun with the audience. It seems impossible that such a blissfully funny play could leave you pondering deep questions, but I walked away with a lot to wrestle with including the meaning of life. Splendid!

If you love the short comedies of David Ives, then you'll love Braverman's STUCK IN THE MIDDLE.
With zany talk about flood of blue slurpee and lazy corn dogs that's side-splitting-funny, this play tackles conflicting views of the meaning of life and faith. And it's totally accessible for any age and background.
This should be considered for your comedy showcase -- just make sure you have a costume designer who can find some hot dog costumes on eBay.

A pure comic gem. Three hot dogs in a convenience store debate the meaning of it all in spectacular fashion. When meat products debate Pascal's Wager you know you have something special.

Since we have animal fables, why not food fables? Paul Braverman has created a clever parable of three hot dogs, the outer ones rotating and the inner one "stuck in the middle," and uses his three sausages to debate issues of life, death, and faith. A fun presentation at Midwest Dramatists' Conference, 2019.

I was so bummed that I missed the reading of this at the Midwestern Dramatist Center conference, because *everyone* was talking about what was soon dubbed "The Hot Dog" play. Braverman's absurdly philosophical ode to existential sausage products definitely lives up to the hype! A perfect short for comedy +/ hot dog play festivals.

I saw this play at the 2019 Midwest Dramatists Conference, and it was easily my favorite play of those I've seen. This piece plays like the movie "Sausage Party," but with a much more existential and philosophical bent. The sheer audacity and creativity of the concept is worthy in and of itself, but that playwright Braverman has imbued his characters (who are hot dogs) and this world with such life and specificity and humor is truly an accomplishment. Directors, designers, and actors will have a blast with this hilarious play. Bravo!

I've seen this play twice: first this summer at the Valdez Last Frontier Theatre Conference, and again at Midwest Dramatists, and it's a keeper in every way. Paul Braverman has created a world where processed meat wonders about life, the universe, and is there life after lunch? It is both hilarious and deep, and proves that the most profound questions we can ask can be served up well and well-done. Bravo, Paul, and pass the mustard!