←Recommendations of During/After

Life is about the choices we make. And in this remarkable drama, Wendy Vogel explores the choices of three men that have repercussions that they, and certainly the audience, could not have imagined. Highly theatrical and chock full of monologues for actors to sink their teeth into, this play and the stories it tells are absolutely riveting. Theaters also make choices. And they should be choosing to produce this play.

"During/After," like the great American classic, "Our Town," spins themes as big as the nature of life and the interconnectedness of humanity while revealing these themes through the small moments that are bigger than we realize, and how those moments ripple through eternity. With a small cast and minimal staging requirements, this is a play that can hit hard, even with a limited budget. Theatres would be smart to give it a look.

Wendy Vogel's DURING/AFTER is a look at how the choices we make in life come back to haunt us. But, instead of following the traditional route of redemption, we are left with the idea of regret being something we choose to let influence our future. It's like "It's a Wonderful Life" meets "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." The complexities of this play make it captivating.

What an incredible way to tell this story. Wendy Vogel paints a world with such unique artistry in a way that captures both intense tragedy and yet hope. During/After gives a unique perspective on how intertwined our lives can be. Keep reading; there's more to it than it seems. The conclusion was perfectly satisfying.

Wow. This is such an original story. So very powerful. The ride will surprise you at every turn, even to the last page. But through the tragedies of these intertwined lives is beauty. We are all connected, even more than we know. This will have audiences gasping, sobbing and holding their loved ones even closer. An absolutely epic mosaic of life and love.

It's a reminder, really. All dressed up, woven, and interlocking.
It's a reminder.
It's a reminder of what's just below the surface... The scars and blemishes that we carry, tugging on the strings that bind; that we don't reveal, lest we betray the image that image we project into the world.
Ornate and complex, the script provides plenty of meat for the actors to sink their teeth into. It would be a glorious addition to any black box theatre's season; intimacy of the space only adding to the exploration of character. I'm looking forward to reading more from Vogel.

As an actor, playwright, and lover of theatre; my favorite theatrical pieces are ones that make the audience and actors think. And this piece certainly does that. Every time you think you understand these characters entirely, there is another layer that is added to their density. And another string in the web connecting them all together. This dense piece is beautifully written and would an intriguing piece to sink my teeth into for any actor and director.

At first, the conceit is established, and it's an engrossing one. You are drawn into these characters and their stories, and you're intrigued as to just why they're sharing them. Then, you get to the midpoint, everything is changed by the revelation, and now you're drawn into the stories for a totally different yet still equally captivating reason. Vogel does great work here in "spinning the plates," if you will, in a beautiful, moving, and tragic way. A challenging piece for theater in all the right ways, I think, and something that actors would love to sink their teeth into.

This harrowing story by Wendy Vogel is bold, emotionally charged, and deeply painful. The connection these men have is honest and extremely captivating. This is a thought provoking play that will stick with you. The characters are well developed and guide the play in unexpected ways that add to the strategic balance of heart and the human spirit. Beautifully written.