←Recommendations of Space Laser, In Space!

More relevant today than ever with more climate change weather disasters being blamed on a Jewish space laser... A gut punch of a short play. (Oct 4, 2024)

"Space Laser, In Space!" by Jillian Blevins skillfully merges humor, tension, and an exploration of Jewish identity. Blevins expertly crafts a narrative that is both thought-provoking and engaging, delivering sharp commentary on cultural identity and historical trauma. This play is a compelling blend of science fiction and personal drama, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. With a unique setting, high stakes, well-rounded characters, it is incredibly poignant- I loved it!

Of course the absurdity of the premise was created by our whacked-out times, but the premise allows for Blevins to go exploring in a very enjoyable manner. It's darkly funny while at the same time able to probe many issues deeply, which the best satire often does. The interaction between David and Talia is great - funny at times, poignant at others. Easy to see why this is an admired 10-minute, and it would be an excellent piece for festivals and actors around the world. (Except, perhaps, for those places that need a good laser blast.) Great sci-fi stuff!

I had the privilege of seeing this piece performed at the 48th Annual Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival. This was easily one of my favorites of the festival. It was smart, suspenseful, and hilarious. The story thrusts us into space with a unique setting and high stakes, has well rounded characters, and asks important questions without stopping the flow of the action or urgency of the story. I completely bought it, even as a staged reading. Could go on forever- please read this play and consider producing it!

A dark and propulsive delight. Blevins is juggling a lot of balls here - science fiction, workplace comedy, political satire, and Talumdic ethical debate - and does so with giddy aplomb. It's hilarious, it's heartbreaking, and it might just make you wish space lasers were real (heavy though their burden may be).

Truly unique, thought provoking and at times darkly funny. The "anti-semitism - who is really a Jew" trope takes a high stakes turn as Talia and David, in their laser-armed satellite must decide if they are to eliminate the evil forces that threaten to annihilate the Jewish people.

Turning right-wing nutsery on its ear and into a lesson on history, faith and practice, as well as delightful humor makes this short play a fun and important tale to share. Jillian Blevins' laser-sharp dialogue, endearing characters, and comic touches never miss the target.

You wouldn't expect a 10-minute piece about a Jewish space laser to plumb the depths of the semitic soul, but Blevins takes that route here, and does it well too. She takes an absurd premise and treats it with a winning mixture of humor and gravitas, all leading up to a cliffhanger ending. What a fun read.

this play is loaded - with history, nuance, gravitas, and humor. the world blevins has crafted is so beautifully specific and functions perfectly for the subject matter. with the resurgence of so much hateful, anti-semitic rhetoric, space laser, in space! couldn't have come at a better time.

The best comedies make us laugh and think at the same time. And in SPACE LASER, IN SPACE by Jillian Blevins, we meet two characters who hilariously and earnestly wrestle with themes of faith, Judaism, and antisemitism while confronting each other and themselves about their own sense of identity. The high stakes throughout juxtaposes beautifully with the absurdity of the situation itself based on antisemitic conspiracy theories and tropes, making a play that's not only wildly entertaining but also incredibly poignant.