←Recommendations of What You Did Say

The structure and cast of "What You Did Say" grabs your attention. Where do you go after a break-up? To friends and therapists. Everyone in the play- the two "ex's" and their confidantes- has input here, sometimes in unison, and separately. The difficult start of processing of a break-up is the focal point of this believable and poignant play.

This is an urgent exploration of a relationship torn apart by unexpressed expectations. Juxtaposing their painful recollections enables a build to a moment of real clarity for each. George and Hal are compellingly drawn and the play gives full voice to their separate journeys. This is a skillfully crafted and thoroughly engaging work.

This little gem is a terrific example of how structure can serve and enhance content. George and Hal's relationship failed in large part because they couldn't communicate what they expected of one another. And Heyman doesn't allow them to do so here either. Instead, they simultaneously air their grievances, self-justifications, and misunderstandings to third parties on a split stage. Their dialogues overlap, interject, and conjoin in such a way as to grab the audience's attention and hold it to the end. It's a brilliant piece of work.

A deeply moving look at a recent breakup, this play is brilliantly constructed with two parallel conversations. Sam Heyman has his characters fully explore their understanding of the breakup, which is sadly different for each of them. The dialogue is terrific and the overall impact with effective staging would be breathtaking!

I was blown away by the theatrical presentation of this deceptively straightforward story of a breakup. Sam Heyman has written a taut, emotional drama where I couldn't help but root for BOTH George and Hal. This is a brilliant 10-minute play that was a pleasure to read and would be amazing to see performed on stage.

Talk about gripping. The tension between George and Hal is electric, charged by the fresh wound of their break-up. Each is clearly drawn and their differences are clearly delineated. This piece also gains power from its vivid theatricality. I have to come back to gripping to describe this play, It builds in compelling intensity from the first beat to the last.

In every relationship, the level of communication between the two people can be blurred or obscured even when they think they're connecting... but are they really? Are they talking to each other, talking past each other, or saying one thing and hearing something else? In this short but powerful piece, Hal and George see their recent breakup in vastly different terms all the while sure they're telling each other -- and themselves -- why their relationship came to an end. Sam Heyman does a masterful job of giving them every chance, and yet... Touching and truthful in every way.

I had the pleasure of playing Hal in a reading of this short piece this afternoon—Heyman does a great job of illustrating a tender wound that cuts both ways of this very recent break-up. What I loved about this piece was how quickly George and Hal are established as to who they are and what they're all about. You can tell there was something there between these two men without falling into the trap of over-writing their backstory. A powerful piece that will be great to see live!

What a powerful short play. The pacing brings the audience into the deserved tension, and the moment the two face each other is pure magic. SAM HEYMAN has a real gift of bringing characters to life with dignity, raw emotion, and truth. THIS NEEDS AN AUDIENCE!

Superb. Like a perfect musical number. Rhythms and tensions drive this piece into an artistic pitch that sucks you in. The sheer theatricality of it makes it both intimidating and alluring. I would love to see it acted out onstage!