←Recommendations of Bridge to Reality, Come in Reality

Sweet, awkward and a perfectly fun piece for student actors to tackle together.

There is a very “oof” sensation that plays out on this short comic piece. A familiar pang of unrequited love. The strange moment when you have taken one step closer to the adult you are destined to be. Bethany Dickens Assaf addresses a coming of age dilemma in a bold new way, going where no one has ever gone before… well… local cable access tv of the early to mid 90s. BRIDGE TO REALITY, COME IN REALITY is a funny play with a solid representation of an awkward time in life before the internet allowed 24/7 video access to everyone.

What a timecapsule! BRIDGE TO REALITY, COME IN REALITY takes us back to the 90s and in the era of Fan Zines and Public Access TV. It is funny and heartbreaking as we watch this friendship (and fandom) tested under the strains of growing up. With an assortment of awful callers, we are reminded of the darker side of fan culture.

There is so much nostalgia in this play, especially for this Star Trek Nerd. I would love to see it done, homemade replica of the Enterprise Bridge and all!

Bethany Dickens Assaf packs a lot of world building into this short comedy: It's set in the 90s, it celebrates "Star Trek" culture and the wild (yet innocent?) hinterlands of public-access TV. There's social strata world building, too, as we the audience know exactly the kind of problematic boys (yet innocent, sweet?) who call into Delia's and Bekah's show.

With that said, Assaf shines brightest in dramatizing that exact moment when Delia has to re-examine her friendship with Bekah, with no help from Bekah, unable to say what she wants to say so much. It's heartbreaking.

Breathtakingly funny and deeply poignant, Dickens chronicles a critical turning point in a friendship in this celebration of geekdom, expression, and the phenomenon that was ‘90s public access TV. The dynamic between the three young women in the studio is classic! Personal pecadilloes clash with illusions of professionalism, spurred on by a cavalcade of callers so fervently pathetic (and pathetically fervent), one can’t help but love them. The callers are a gift to voice actors who are great at the post-pubescent crackling of awkward late bloomers. The conflict is rollicking and relentless. You’ll want to tune in!

A heart-breaking look at the struggles of maintaining friendship throughout high school's inevitable changes, nerd culture, and unrequited love. This play is charming and heartbreaking at the same time.

The set-up of two teens working through complicated (and not so complicated) emotions while on air on a public access TV station is brilliant. The creepy callers with their odd opinions and questions build to a wonderful late reveal. This play would work well in a longer form. I was totally absorbed in the evolving dynamic between Delia and Bekah. I also love the pre-internet/pre-social media setting that still shows the weirdness and nastiness of people when given a platform.

This short play would be great for high schoolers, college and youth theatre companies! The teenage characters are realistically-rendered and the dialogue feels very authentic. The Star Trek references were very well-woven in, an appropriate nod but understandable to both Trekkies and non-Trekkies alike. You really felt for these teenagers and the emotions were tinged with the unique pain and possibility of the teenage years.