←Recommendations of Cake

I am always amazed at how much story some writers can fit into a ten-minute framework. Jacquelyn Floyd-Priskorn begins her play “Cake” in the aftermath of a public food fight between two men; and, by the time she wraps things up, you will not only swear you were there, but you’ll may be ready sit down and share a slice of cake at them yourself. What starts as a comedic party that has grown out of hand finishes as a poignant tale of loss and friendship. This truly is a Cake of many layers.

Bravo to Jacquelyn Floyd-Priskorn for baking up this sweet and satisfying theatrical treat! What sets CAKE apart is its ability to weave levity into a story about coping with depression and suicide. This would be a delightful addition to any festival, reading series, or full production, offering audiences both laughter and a meaningful takeaway.

“Cake” opens with two guys in handcuffs and covered in frosting. With a scene like that, I’m all in. But then comes the twists, revelations and realizations. In ten short minutes, Jacquelyn Floyd-Priskorn captures a spectrum of emotions and the complexity of friendship.

"Cake" cleverly weaves together humor and grief; it is funny while still tackling heavy subjects beautifully and delicately.

At the beginning of this piece we think the two clowns we meet are the stereotypical oafs we all went to school with, as they are covered in frosting and handcuffed. There is so much more to this piece than that-talk of depression and death. Funny and sad, but ultimately hopeful.

So right from the tagline I needed to read this play and that theme kept going as I read. You are presented with two characters in a police station covered in frosting and then, as an audience you are invited to question and then discover what led to these events. The three characters have lovely connecting moments of dialogue both in heart-wrenching and humorous moments. An audience will be drawn into this play because they, like I, will want to know what happened to start and bond with the wonderful characters throughout, for me a perfect construction!

I love that CAKE begins with a comic and suspenseful mise en scene (one that hints at what went on before and seems to begin an action that is suspended until the finale). There’s Marty saying to Bashir, “I can knock you right back to high school, my friend!” - which adds to the slapstick anticipation and Bashir’s wonderful speech about the feeling of “dark, grey cotton balls filling up your head” that gets at the complexity of the piece, the juggling between party antics and depression.

There are some surprises in this play that I didn't expect. It's both humorous and sad in many ways. I love pieces that have missing characters, too. We learn so much about the people in the play through what they say about Hunter, who is gone. I found this piece touching and truthful about the ways depression messes with our heads. It would be great to see on stage!

Really nicely constructed, funny but touches on a serious subject (men and depression) without being at all preachy or maudlin. Even just reading it, I could completely see the characters and their bonds with each other.

This CAKE comes in many delicious layers. The audience will be laughing from lights up, and actors will have to hold so they can recover and pay attention. And when the audience recovers from that initial comic image, they will be treated to more laughs, some sadness, hints of depression, a desire to belong, and a resolve to carry on (literally and figuratively). That’s a lot to pack into 11 pages, but in Jacquelyn Floyd-Priskorn’s capable hands, the proof is in the pudding or rather cake.