←Recommendations of 38 Cookies, 39 Reasons [a monologue]

Martin plays with structure by giving us a play where the throughline is the eating of a pack of Oreos. We know how it's going to start, and we know how it's going to end, but the journey there brilliantly packs as much emotion into Terry and their journey, as Nabisco can pack into a Mega-Stuf Oreo.

Martin creates a complex character, someone we easily recognize in ourselves (even if we are not plus-size). He does this through a simple action that's performed by many off stage, but rarely on stage -- cookie binging. Another unforgettable monologue character from Martin.

This is the first official play I've decided to read on here and I absolutely loved it. I had to turn and read it aloud to my wife just properly get the tempo across to get a stronger feel for it. Written, it's magnificent, spoken with purpose was even better!

There's something powerful about eating cookies with purpose, despite knowing there are many eyes on you. Judging you. At first, as the audience, you feel you deserve to know why. But after a while, you realize, it isn't our business. And I think that is a great message. People worry to much about what strangers are doing. And we worry too much about what strangers think of us. Today, I will choose to love myself and have a cookie. Thank you for this insightful monologue, Mr Martin!

Steven Martin perfectly captures the variation of Terry's feelings as they eat chocolate cookies. I found this play sweet, uncomfortable, and raw. So good!

You’d think, given the title, that this play would be sweet (pun intended). It actually digs deep into some serious societal, emotional, and psychological issues in a very intriguing way. Full of mystery and energy. Imagining it on stage has me torn between dread and fun. All of this, AND cookies. What’s not to love?

Step 1: You admit that you have no control over cookies; that your life has become unmanageable.
I know exactly how Terry feels and why he does what he does. After reading or seeing this short play, so will you.

My thing is chocolate ice-cream ... so, I get the message portrayed by this work very loudly!
If you are looking for a well-written, funny short-monologue, look no further. "#8 Cookies, 39 Reasons" by Steven Martin is well worth putting on stage.

I heard a reading of this play at the Indiana Playwrights Circle Scene Night, and it absolutely gutted me. I loved it so much. It speaks to our complicated relationship with food -- how we use it to celebrate, for solace, to escape. Martin takes us on a journey that is powerful and painful. It's an incredible trip. I'd love to see this on stage.

I applaud this brave and astounding play. It is so powerful, so perfect. It should be produced all of the time in all of the places. Its message is beyond just meaningful, it is necessary. Thank you, Steven G. Martin.