←Recommendations of IT'S DEAD IN HERE ON TUESDAYS

After a snowboarding accident in a Michigan blizzard, David makes his way to a tavern presided over by a clairvoyant bartender and occupied, despite the weather, by a quirky group of friendly regulars. He slowly realizes that "it's dead in here on Tuesdays" is to be taken literally, and the tavern is a sort of purgatory where everyone, including himself, is awaiting the next step in their afterlife journeys. In this enjoyable short play, Alles has given us characters with depth and heart.

This play starts out as the ultimate character study of rural Michigan and then suddenly it becomes a spiritual journey about the afterlife and faith. I love the world building here and the roles of the Szubinski Brothers are a great place to show off some stage combat and comic relief!

I love plays like this: taking a look at the afterlife, in a humorous and thoughtful way. It's not heavy or portentous, just a fact of "life" (or non-"non-aliveness"). The returning bar characters deal with their reality the best way they know how, while offering sympathy and support to the newcomers. Well done!

Not since Cheers has there been a more interesting bar filled with enjoyable characters. Given the unique circumstances that bring them together, I can’t help but want to know what new characters could arrive in the future and how long before the characters Brent Alles has shared with us move on to new adventures. A great premise, wonderful characters, and a lot of insight into life in Michigan. You can’t ask for more, except maybe seconds on the venison chili.

I love this play. So much. It's the rare play where the twist comes halfway through and the storyline still carries in strong, unexpected ways through the whole play. I love the characters, love the world that's created, love how it is gentle and realistic and thrilling and a slow burn. It is expertly layered, extremely rewarding, and I would love to see it live.

How do we even recognize that we have entered the afterlife? The vivid fight between the Szubinski brothers offers the first startling clue. This play is filled with well-defined characters, most of whom have accommodated themselves to their new reality, and snappy, distinctive dialogue. David is fortunate to have met his demise on a Tuesday and we are fortunate to have this opportunity to explore it with him.

Not a bad way to spend the rest of your death; socializing in a bar with friends, good food and drink and not having to worry about the nine-to-five grind anymore. Brent Alles creates a great setup for the audience and then lets the characters invite David (and them) into this remote bar for some talk about life, death, the afterlife and how accepting the end might be a new beginning. Wonderful dialogue, fun characters and a though-provoking premise. Cool stuff!

The dive bar as a metaphor for purgatory. I didn't see that one coming. Alles, obviously steeped in the "snow culture" has a great ear for dialogue and rhythm. What starts out as as a thriller with a twist becomes an beautiful reflection on what comes after us. This is a well written, thoughtful short play that would be a great addition to an evening of shorts. Well done!

Remind me to always check if someone is being serious the next time they tell me a place is dead. This is a fun look at a question that has been on the mind of humanity from the very beginning, what happens when we die.

Wow, what a journey! The characters feel very interesting with their own unique voices and senses. Brent Alles's well-paced story brings you into this little bar slowly and calmly at first, and then rockets into what could otherwise be a messy twist, and finally parachutes down into a wholesome conclusion. I would love to see this produced, and each character gives their actor an entertaining role.