←Recommendations of Manes Before Dames

First of all, the implication of having a King named Dave is choice. Second of all, the multiple meanings Heyman fits into this piece are plentiful, hilarious, and wonderful. But perhaps most of all, where this short play winds up going is nothing short of jaw-dropping. Surprisingly emotional, playfully raunchy, and tackling relationships and communication in them with nuance, this is a surefire winner for any festival.

Let's hear it for the powerful and smart lionesses of the world! SAM HAYMAN has written a beautiful short play about growing up and becoming a real man. The layers are wonderful.

04/02/2025. Oh boy, does Sam Heyman take audiences/readers on a journey with MANES BEFORE DAMES. I went in thinking this would be a cute and silly skit about anthropomorphic animals, and it is oh so much more than that. It is a beautiful story with honest and sincere characters. And also, bonus that the lioness is a total bad@ss!

Come for the bawdy humor in "Manes Before Dames," stay for the highly emotional core. The boys-will-be-boys humor among anthropomorphized lions made me laugh out loud, but Sam Heyman knows the true impact of this story is that Dave makes a choice to stand up for himself and what he needs. [24/10/12]

"Manes before Dames" is a beautifully layered play -- very funny and heartfelt. The struggles are real and human. Love that the characters are lions and lionesses (the pride community metaphor is fantastic). Well done.

Sam should take much pride in writing such a funny piece based on this premise. (OK, sorry, got that out of the way.) Just imagining the staging of this put a smile on my face, and then there were many laugh-out-loud moments throughout. That being said, there's also actually some real insight in terms of relationships, societal expectations, and responsibility to be found here. Pretty masterful work for a 10-minute. This is going to be a great entry into any 10-minute festival that chooses to have it.

Few people write about the complexities of human relationships as deftly as Sam Heyman does. Now add "lion" relationships to that skill set. "Manes Before Dames" is a lovely, often humorous and always heartfelt look at two lovers/friends and what happens when a woman (excuse me: lioness) comes between them.

Bravo, Sam!

If I didn't know better, I'd swear this was a conversation that I've overheard or even been a part of many times in the past: a coming-of-age moment that we all go through, whether we're human or leonine. By casting it the way Sam Heyman has and giving it the setting that he has, we are able to remove ourselves from our own experiences and see it objectively... and truthfully. The comic twist of making this about anthropomorphic lions adds to the insight: which one are we, and does pride goeth before the fall?