←Recommendations of Not THAT Steve Martin

This quick, witty, and on-the-nose short piece gave me flashbacks to my first meeting with my partner's family at Christmas: the table laden with strange foods, the games, the inside stories and misunderstood connections. It was only a little later that my partner had the same fish-out-of-water feelings when he met my family. Hilary Bluestein-Lyons gets it so right, and even though I know not-THAT Steve Martin, I think anyone will get the connection, banjo or not.

Even though I like what’s on the menu for this post holiday get together, I can easily identify with Theodore being the outsider. The inside jokes, everyone talking at once and over each other and not really listening to the new guy. Hilary Bluestein-Lyons keeps the pace moving in this clever piece. Four great characters that will have audiences nodding in recognition.

Poor Theodore doesn't stand a chance with the self-absorbed group of old friends into which he has been thrust. This is a sharp and witty portrait of a man isolated by the narcissism of his companions. And the image of having to plow through piles of "comfort food," makes Theodore's dilemma all the more delicious.

A very fun invite to a holiday get together you just can't help but love!

The title caught my eye. The story about self-centered adults made me laugh.

Hilary Bluestein-Lyons has written a sharp comedy about being a newcomer invited to join a longstanding group of friends ... and then being treated like a third wheel. I felt bad for Theodore because everything he says in "Not THAT Steve Martin" is ignored or misconstrued or topped by one of the friends' stories. Run fast, Theodore. Run far.

Whether you know the real Steve Martin (no, not THAT one) or not, "Not THAT Steve Martin" will make you laugh. Hilary Bluestein-Lyons gives us a perfectly paced farce about a group of friends who make the wrong assumptions of a newcomer to their group but don't care to be told otherwise. The dialogue is razor-sharp. This would be a great addition to any 10-minute festival. Bravo!

Fast and funny, this short piece barrels along with poor Theodore being run ragged. Relatable and quippy with great roles for all four actors. In a perfect world, Steve Martin (the SNL alum) playing Theodore would make for a brilliantly twisted and meta theatre experience! How can we make this happen?! AND NPX playwright Steve Martin as Aaron?! The mind reels!

I would have been disappointed if the Steve Martin in this play WASN'T the Steve Martin I know (who is not THAT Steve Martin that most of the public knows). Luckily, it wasn't THAT Steve Martin, but I must admit, I'm not entirely sure it IS the Steve Martin I know, but that's how I'm interpreting this play from Hilary Bluestein-Lyons who I also know. This delightful play has great characters mistakenly discussing the OTHER Steve Martin, until they are set straight. I wonder if the REAL Steve Martin, the one I personally know, knows about this play? Hope so.

Hey! I know him! Not THAT Steve Martin, but the Steve Martin mentioned in this play. Hilary Bluestein-Lyons creates moments in this play that deeply resonate with adults trying to maintain friendships with other adults (even as we all get weirder with age), playwrights who have ever had to justify their profession to anyone ever, and friends of Steve Martin, who will always clarify that they know the superior Steve Martin. This play is full of awkward interactions and unique holiday traditions, that would be absolutely delightful to stage.

Well Done! Highly Recommend!

What a delight this piece is: zany and rife with ridiculous, myopic characters who possess an overinflated sense of self-importance. Except Teddy. This crowd has no idea that Teddy ain't long for this group, movin' on up to bigger better things. Between living in long-ago glory days and an active refusal to listen, Lila, Jan and Aaron's collective narcissism leads to a misunderstanding that is both refreshing, and, avoidable. What a fun, fun piece for audiences and actors alike. A big YAY.