Perfect representation of the struggle between personal and political life. Where is the line? Is there a possibility for reconciliation? How do they coexist? Perhaps stepping outside oneself holds a key.

It has been awhile since I’ve read Max Gill’s work, but he continues to impress me as much as he did a couple years ago. “Things Stalin Never Said” is a vivid rendering of a man’s search for empathy, and the journey he has gone through to get him to where he is today: seeking help to rediscover what he has lost. A compelling journey that’s chronicled by Gill’s superb penmanship, plot structure, and creative prowess. A fulfilling fifteen minutes.

This offbeat and darkly humorous play is relatable in the current world. The onslaught of human suffering we experience makes us wonder if, as Parker says, “we only have a natural store of the capacity to feel for other people and when it’s used up, it’s just gone and we can’t feel anything for anyone.” The comical twists and turns as the empathicist valiantly tries to address this statement using “Parker Two” to help Parker examine the past, present, and future of their life is an effective plot device to get Parker to come back to empathy.