←Recommendations of Chekhov's Gun

The delight of traditional theatrical humor structures is a familar hug in Chekhov's Gun. Each ingredient coalesces into an evergreen PLAY, with every taste an audience hopes for when embarking on a family dramedy. I am forever biased for a sprawling generational story of grief, and Perry's character texture and situational devices evince how tragedy is best explored through tension and release. Succinctly: expertly executed with an intriguing color given to each player, a pleasure to unravel.

"Chekhov’s Gun1: or, Marie Had a Little Lamb" is a compelling play that masterfully intertwines character development with sharp dialogue to explore themes of independence and overcoming loneliness. The playwright, James Perry, skillfully employs Chekhov's Gun as a narrative device, ensuring every element has significance. Characters evolve through intricate interactions, revealing deep-seated fears and desires. The dialogue is authentic and engaging, driving the plot while peeling back layers of each persona. Perry's concept resonates throughout, making the play a poignant reflection on human connections and the courage found in facing life's challenges. A must-read for enthusiasts of thoughtful drama.

Really enjoyable read. CHEKHOV'S GUN is what can best be described as a typical family dramady that includes an ailing matriarch, a doting long-time suitor, mysterious will changes, the return of the prodigal son, an actual clown and a living lamb. Okay - so maybe not that typical. The distinct characters, their relationships and wonderful wordplay add to the intriguing plot. This makes an entertaining evening of theatre. I would love to see this staged. Delightful!

I adore this story. It definitely has its Chekovian characters, and of course, the gun. But the whole package is so wonderful. And Cecil's stand-up routine is absolutely hilarious! This is a great play for actors as well as designers. But audiences will simply love the character dynamics, dramatics and the delightfully happy ending.

A wonderful read, a wonderful show. The characters are just excellent; tropes are quickly shattered as CECIL the clown (my favorite part) makes his arrival. I just love his absurd as hell but totally necessary presence in this work. I laughed many times throughout. The back and forth banter and dialogue between characters is great. The plot moves along at a zippy pace and holds your interest throughout. It's also a wonder that Perry mixes some thoughtfulness amongst all the wackiness, but it's a good balance. Can't wait to see this staged at some point!

James Perry has combined a drawing room comedy, a mystery, and a family drama to great effect. And strangely, the inclusion of a clown, a live lamb, and the offstage presence of a hellacious toddler all seem to make perfect sense in this expertly written, thoroughly entertaining work. There are many memorable moments and lines, my favorite being the simple retort, “Irony.” Audiences will laugh and have their suspicions raised, and likely give one big sigh of relief at the heartwarming conclusion.

Yes, this play has familiar tropes that may lull one into thinking they know where it's going--a wealthy dying matriarch, a family with too many uneasy relationships, a lost will, a lawyer with questionable intentions. But then a clown--an actual clown--shows up. And a maid is revealed to have been a stripper well-known to some of the male characters. And there's an evil child off stage. And a lamb, a live, cute, heroic lamb on stage. It's a marvelously quirky concoction a cast of character actors will have a great deal of fun with. And so will the audience.

Much like the concept for which this title is named, something that seems insignificant is actually part of the driving plot in James Perry's "Chekov's Gun". The characters are authentic and nuanced creations that actors would love to sink their teeth into. Fans of Neil Simon, Tracy Letts, Lillian Hellman and Lydia Diamond will delight in this play. James Perry is one to watch!