←Recommendations of is my sun shining?

Of all the conflicts that could be written, grief and love are the first two and the hardest. Ian Donley has crafted them beautifully in “is my sun shining?”a touching play that looks into their complexities. Alec’s journey through loss is depicted with raw emotion and dark humor, creating a deep human experience, with sharp dialogue and vibrant characters making their interactions feel real and moving. Donley balances the heaviness of its themes with lighter moments, offering an overall presentation that is both emotional qand inspiring.

When we lose a loved one, we often carry on imaginary conversations with them. Ian Donley takes this concept a step further in this story of grief resulting from a recent tragedy. Even with the dark subject matter, Donley manages to give us a couple of welcome laugh out loud moments. But it’s the feeling that if only this conversation could have happened sooner that is the true haunting of this piece. Poignant and beautiful work.

The complexity of grief is given its full due in this moving play. Alec's response to Brayden's suicide rings true in its ambivalence and confusion. Broken as he is, that he is ultimately lead to take a step back into life is hearteningly apt. A lovely and true to life work.

I enjoyed this dialogue very much because it read the way people actually speak, which is not always easy to do when writing dialogue for a play. Donley has given us a very real peak into a moment in grief, which is such a universal feeling for humans at some point in their life. It really felt like I was getting a glimpse at a real person's reaction to a loss.

In "Is My Sun Shining?" by Ian Donley, Alec's journey through grief is a raw and gripping exploration of human vulnerability. Donley masterfully weaves together moments of anger, guilt, and longing as Alec grapples with the aftermath of Brayden's death. The dynamic between Alec and Brayden is deeply nuanced, revealing layers of their relationship and the lingering unresolved issues. Despite its weighty themes, the play is interspersed with humor and levity, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness. Our loved one's are always with us. Beautiful Ian.

I love that Brayden would always ask "is my sun shining?" It's absolutely adorable. As dramatic as his exit from this world, it seems Alec was on a similar, although slower path of destruction through his grief. Luckily, Brayden returns for one last visit to shine a light and guide his love to a better future. One that can continue to honor Brayden through a mutual connection. An ending to a literal and figurative storm with both a literal and figurative rainbow!

The heartache depicted in Ian Donley’s play is so relatable, a period when emotions fluctuate wildly and actions can defy logic. This story revolving around the spirit of a dead lover feels real and even hopeful. The grief-stricken character left behind to pick up the pieces of his life gets answers to his lingering questions and a chance to say things that were left unsaid. Skillfully done.

There is truth in this play of grief wrapped in pain and love and self destruction. There is truth in memories made manifest and in permission to heal. Ian Donley does a wonderful job in crafting these truths into a short interlaced with the humor that follows trauma. Very well done.

Death can do all sorts of things to a person and Ian explores all of those powerful emotions in this ten minute play. An audience won't fail to be struck by the heart breaking circumstances that Alec has found himself in, contemplating and trying to live through the loss of the person he loves. Its an emotional play with wonderful moments of humour that provides the audience with moments that they may not expect. Speaking personally, I shed a tear or two! Offers a powerful performance opportunity for two actors!

This moment of memory is all too true and powerful for those of us who have been through it, but Ian Donley's well-crafted handling of it stays away from the mawkish and sentimental. It's not a ghost story; there's nothing unreal about a memory of a dead loved one dropping by to check in; it happens. Rather than make it all better, though, he leaves it as it should be: there will always be their presence.