←Recommendations of Apple

Existing somewhere between absolute realism and absolute wish-fulfillment, this is a great play about the current state of assessment culture. Biting commentary but wrapped in a digestble coating of world-weary comedic characters. A perfect play for anyone who has even a brushing familiarity with teaching (in other words, all of us).

10/25/2025: I saw an excellent staged reading of this brilliant play at the Midwest Dramatists Conference 2025. The play reveals an award-winning professor's true motivation behind his teaching methods and delivers a jarring punch to the current state of the student-teacher relationship in academia! And the best part is that you don't even have to be in academia to relate to the events and appreciate this hilarious play! Bravo!

Apple had me laughing, groaning, and nodding in recognition. And I'm not even in academia. The twist midway through sends this play in a surprising direction that includes a terrific monologue for Tom, the tenure-track professor. But both roles offer substantial opportunities to two lucky actors. Apple has many more readings and productions ahead of it.

10.21.25 - A slap in the face with a tenured fish is how I'd describe this hilarious look at the perils and pitfalls of academia, Ben Corbett takes you down a rabbit hole one way before flooding the warren with an inspired diatribe about a professor's REAL motivations behind his teaching methods. Both sobering and spot-on, this one was a winner that I got to hear a terrific reading of at the Midwest Dramatist Conference.

Corbett's fun short play offers an entertaining view into the world of academia. The play's authenticity heightens the impact of what it looks like when we say the quiet part out loud. This piece manages to be both humorous and insightful. My favorite line - "Always fear the students." Great work from Ben Corbett!

Ben Corbett never minces words, and like his one-person "Fat Men in Yoga Pants," he takes you gently into a place and then tells you exactly what he has to say and what you need to hear. This two-hander is powerful without being harsh, strong without being overwhelming, and in doing so, the audience will be confronted with some absolute truths. Speaking as a recovering teacher, I felt every word and emotion to my core, and so will you. Bravo, Ben.

I had the pleasure to see a reading of this play and it definitely sticks the landing. The set up of this two-hander builds to a very satisfying cathartic release for one of the men, albeit short-lived. They are educators after all and they both know the wisdom of discretion. This is a fun play, with a snarl and some teeth. Delightful work from Mr. Corbett.