←Recommendations of On The Edge

An ailing man sits alone “on the edge” of his hospital bed. He has a decision to make. And it is not the first time in his life that he has been asked to make it. As a voice from the other side guides him through the grieving process to a potentially final destination, Adam must evaluate the value of a good life lived against the unpromised one yet to come. Rich and Dorothea Helms have done a superlative job crafting this short play that walks the narrow balance between poignant and sentimental without ever taking a false step.

For a journey through the 5 stages of grief during a hospital stay, the authors find an effective balance of humor and vulnerability reflecting on the complexities of a life lived and teetering on the edge of a possible ending.

"The stages of grief" an almost lighthearted near-death dramedy. The authors masterfully navigate through all the pitfalls such a play could fall into and stay on top. Although it was written as a radio drama, the text already contains a variety of staging possibilities, as well as interesting costume suggestions. Perhaps no one has ever seen death quite like this before.

Each of us, at some point in time, will have to face that black day. And I truly admire writers who, while they yet live, make the attempt to deal in their own way with the finality of being mortal. Rich Helms w/ Dorothea Helms have rendered unto us a gift with "On The Edge". The piece is life-affirming without being mawkish or twee. Which is no easy feat.

We all know how grief feels - a rare experience, though, is what it feels like to grieve for oneself. Helms does an excellent job walking the audience through the mix of emotions and the weight of decision-making Adam feels when on the precipice of living and dying. The ending fits perfectly. Well done!

This play feels like a "Twilight Zone" episode, which I totally relate to. Putting into words and describing the space between life and death could be daunting, but not for Rich Helms. Through the character of Adam, he explores the stages of grief with grace and gravity, complete with off-stage voices to add a layer of depth, making the off-stage characters very real. With a light and serious tone, “On The Edge.” is an engaging and reflective theatrical experience—a truly unique one!