←Recommendations of trauma dumping

Structurally, this fantasma on grief and religious displacement runs on dream logic, giving it a fluid sensibility that invites audiences to "interpret" the central narrative, traveling-guru-style. It's irreverent, often metatheatrical, and as unexpectedly funny as it is deeply heartwrenching. The piece offers creatives nearly unlimited options for depicting this kaleidoscope world, making it a fantastic canvas for designers, directors, and more. What a unique and unexpectedly universal play!

An incredibly inventive journey here. Not surprising, coming from the ever creative and admiringly offbeat mind of Donley. The Player should provide a magnificent acting opportunity for the actor that gets a chance to bring it to life. Beyond that, there's a tremendous amount to unpack as we move along from "car" to "car." Moving monologues, darkly absurd humor to flavor the mix, and even some pointed and necessary commentary on our current age. This play's got it all.

It is amazing what the mind can do when confronted by grief, loss, and the world seemingly spinning out of control. Ian Donley captures that feeling well in this non-linear exploration with humor, pathos, and genuine heart for the characters in this story, told to us by them and The Player as our guide. Faith and love come under this kaleidoscopic microscope leaving us to think about all of it.

There is a unique grief to losing your religion, whether you can pinpoint it to a single moment or it’s a life-long slog. Add a sister onto that? Oof. Catholicism at its most absurdist. Donley’s play is a beautiful, irreverently hilarious vibe, careening the audience through a spiral of dream-states and limbo-like fourth wall broken madness. But we never feel out of control or like there isn’t a guiding hand. Also, some great monologues and scenes in here for actors to latch onto. So much fun.

Based on the title, I thought this play was going to be a lot heavier than it ended up being. It's definitely intense, but there are some real moments of levity and some very funny jokes in this non-linear story about the grief that comes from losing both a loved one and your religion. The role of The Player is, in particular, an amazing challenge for a strong actor to show off what they can do, and the story keeps you on your toes until the end.

Ian Donley always enjoys playing fast and loose with the fourth wall in his plays, and in trauma dumping, Donley combines his signature loose fourth wall with a trippy dream-like structure and threads it with plenty of religious trauma for an unforgettable read! I have a feeling this will be a favorite of college students with dark senses of humor and an affinity for abstract theater who are actively wrestling with their religious upbringings.

Well that was intense. And surreal. And disorienting. And a powerful metaphor for the torturous path that is grief. Absurd humor bumps against real feelings in a vividly theatrical context. McDonalds, Dante's Inferno, DND, Buckey the Beaver, the nature of faith, the effects of early religious training and trauma, and multiple car wrecks are tossed together to make a compelling journey and an ultimately resonant whole.

Hang onto your seat. Ian Donley takes the audience on a wild ride complete with car crashes as Brandon, Caroline, and Player (playing many characters) careen through dream sequences and some deep discussions on religion, grief, family, friends, Dungeons and Dragons, and more. They’re even able to squeeze in some libidinous behavior. As an alumnus of both Oregon State and University of Wisconsin, I loved the references to Benny and Bucky.

Surrealism meets hyper-realism meets dark, absurdist comedy. Throw in generous doses of high drama and you have more than enough for a visceral, engaging evening of theater. Of course, I was limited to a mere reading. And I can only imagine the impact of a live performace. With a nod to Sam Shepard & Caryl Churchill, "trauma dumping" is a play from the off-ramp of the mainstream. And we can never have enough of its type. Well done, Mr. Donley!

This dark comedy intrigued me with its title and the concept of the Player who comes on and off stage in many different roles. I was swept along by the fast paced absurdism and many changes of time and place. When the Player spoke directly to the audience I was relieved to find out that our collective confusion was all part of the journey. All of this was going on whilst telling a compelling story. A good choice if you want a play with multiple characters with a cast of just three .