←Recommendations of To Die For

It's amazing how quickly a lie can become a rumor and build into a monster to destroy already fragile lives. This whole play I was wondering what the truth was. I didn't know what to believe. Therein lies the danger. When you don't know what to believe, you make snap judgements that can ruin reputations and lives. Hilda's Diner really is a mystery story set in Post WWII America. The nation's nerves are shot, but they are ready to rebuild. It's hard to know who to trust and who might be a hidden sniper. A great journey!

Wow! Hilda’s Diner is a wonderfully crafted, intense, period piece, revolving around the devastating effects of war, and family dynamics. Each scene grabs your attention, leaving you wondering which characters you can actually trust.

I spend a lot of time in this era in my mind and writing on paper. This moving and heartwarming play captures the essence of post-war America with grace and authenticity. Set in 1946, it explores the lives of those touched by war, both on the battlefield and at home. Dana Hall’s "Hilda’s Diner" play is clever and uses overlapping dialogue and a set that is both a home and a diner, creating a dynamic and intimate atmosphere. I was there throughout and enjoyed this read. Great play Dana!

With a nod to Hemingway's "Soldier's Home" and the 1946 film "The Best Years of Our Lives", this mystery/drama in a post war setting is highly compelling and - from beginning to end - never loses its grip. The characterization is fully dimensioned, with dialogue that is evocative of the era yet never sounds trite. Would work exceedingly well on stage or film.

Hilda’s Diner is a well-crafted and engaging mystery / family drama / period piece. With great pacing, Hall ratchets up the suspense and keeps us guessing and leaning in through every scene. Questions are answered along the way, or are they? A play that holds my interest, raises questions, and leaves me thinking about it long after the final curtain is a play I want to see. That’s Hilda’s Diner.

This compelling, air-tight historical drama is full of colorful characters - and while it may be set in 1946, there are echoes of the Covid era in nearly every interaction, making it a brilliant choice for contemporary theatrical seasons. Who knew a small-town diner could be the setting of such an intriguing and heart-racing mystery? If you're like me, you'll spend the entire play learning forward, picking up clues, and trying to figure out what is really going on—and it still ends on a fun cliffhanger! There's something for everyone in Hilda's diner... but don't try the casserole!

Small towns are suspicious of change, and here they are especially suspicious of Hilda, the stranger one of their boys married before he went off to war. Why did her mother-in-law bypass her own sons give Hilda the family diner? Why is Hilda so attentive to the male customers? And when her husband returns from the war only to mysteriously sicken and die, just what was in those casseroles Hilda was feeding him? By the end, you may think every question has been answered, but a brilliant last sentence will leave you wondering. Terrific and engaging work!

So many issues of real importance are raised in this heart-racing narrative. The meanings of family, of marriage, and of service are all movingly explored as we are drawn into the mystery of the accusations swirling around Hilda. The mystery hovers for me over even the last line.

I had the double pleasure of attending the reading of this play by ATC Studios and then reading it afterwards. There are so many wonderful levels to this outstanding work. Part historical drama, part mystery, part family drama, and part advocacy for veterans benefits and mental health issues. Dana Hall mixes this all together expertly and with great care, just like a tasty casserole from Hilda’s Diner! I guess that’s why I came back for a second helping!

HILDA'S DINER is a powerful play. The story, the characters, and the dialogue are all top notch. Dana Hall has not only created some emotionally raw and tender moments, but she has this natural ability to keep readers on their toes with what comes next. Would love to see this as a staged production!