←Recommendations of For a Limited Time Only (The Bread Play)

I enjoy the simplicity of the situation coupled with the grandiose perplexion. It felt cute in many ways yet deep in many others. Laughing at a dark absurdist comedy was all I needed, and in ten minutes - it's quite a feat!

I adore the things Daniel Prillaman's mind churns out. A humorous situation turns horrifying as Arlo and Val realize that the Italian Garden Factory's unlimited bread deal is truly unlimited. I especially loved the little vignettes showing the passage of time and the ending - the whole time I was wondering how on earth this story could possibly end, and it turns out the answer is: perfectly. (And as a person who is no longer able to eat bread, this play helps me feel less upset about it. You guys, there is SO MUCH bread. Everywhere. What a stage picture.)

The concept alone had me giggling. But even though this is an existential horrorscape of a restaurant, the relationship between Arlo and Val becomes so strong and beautiful! I adore this terrifying play, even though it left me feeling a little bloated.

A simple, family style Italian restaurant where unlimited bread for $5.99 is a hell of a deal. Enter Val and Arlo, a young couple having a normal evening although overindulging on the meal and, of course, the bread. But when they ask for the check, they suddenly discover they are in the Daniel Prillaman Zone! What a funny, creepy story! I would absolutely love to see this performed! If there’s a moral to the story, I think it’s if you want to eat out, do it at home.

“You can dream better dreams than just being able to sleep wherever you want.” And boy, did Prillaman dream up one hell of a script! A play about eating that will leave you full and satisfied even with a bit of an ambiguous (and perfect) ending. I can tell Arlo and Val love each other (they had me at Bake Off accents) and the Server serves every time.

No Exit Parmesan? Val and Arlo learn the hard way the true cost of an unlimited offering. The dawning awareness of their situation and their attempts to escape and then reconcile themselves to it are wryly amusing and appropriately desperate. And the surprising conclusion cements their bond and their fate.

A genius premise that is expanded upon in all the glory of an existential horror. The comedy of the piece is intertwined wonderfully with the elements of horror that such a seemingly-benign concept beholds, and the characters are clearly written with precision and care. Highly recommend!

Yes the premise is gorgeous, allowing for both horror and humor. But what I most appreciate most in this one-act dark comedy is the journey taken by protagonists Arlo and Val.

Starting slightly bickering and slightly dissatisfied, the couple at the start of "For a Limited Time Only" turn very dark as conflicts grow deeper. And yet Daniel Prillaman provides them with a final turn that -- perhaps while not a happy ending -- sees them to a level of care that they had not shown before.

This play is emotionally richer because of Prillaman's skill.

You don't want unlimited bread. No matter how tempting the offer sounds, you don't want it. Daniel Prillaman, in his dark witty genius, shows us what a Faustian bargain it is to go for the "unlimited" anything deal. By turns horrifying, funny and oddly sweet, "For A Limited Time Only" takes a seemingly benign concept and shows us what could go wrong in a fantastic and highly theatrical way. This should be produced everywhere!

The play launches with such a relatable and wry concept, and then confidently commits to and expounds upon the question of what we would do if the bread never stopped. I also really admire the piece's 'build' - the horror escalates at just the right beats and, in spite of the scenario, the chaos unfolds with a gleeful, irresistible logic. The advertisements and vignettes also add a touch of theatrical brilliance, adding to the piece's deeper musing on the brevity of life and relationships. A striking achievement and a great read!