←Recommendations of Re-Gifted

Now THIS is how you grip an audience in a short play! Begin with a compelling mystery, give us an explosive, emotional, thoughtfully seeded reveal, and then play our heartstrings like a dang banjo until we're on the verge of bawling. This play doesn't give us a neat and tidy resolution, making it feel uniquely human and organic, but still satisfying - after all, our protagonist gets what she wants... even if she may be losing something else. This emotional play will absolutely stick with you!

Not what I expected upon reading the title - but much better. Re-Gifted by DC Cathro takes us to a place where grief and hope intersect. He does it with care and compassion - infusing his characters with raw emotion where the need to protect conflicts with the need to connect. Beautifully written short.

Devastating. Re-Gifted is beautifully written with characters drawn so clearly and quickly that we are drawn deeply into their emotional lives before we realize it. A moving piece and it might want to be longer than 10 minutes - there is so much to this story.

Cathro is a writer of humanity, a contemporary O. Henry, and his words seem to particularly shine when handed the odd title in a Secret Santa gift title exchange. (Aspire.) Here we the audience can place ourselves in both characters' shoes, and relate and empathize - the one who wants to move forward, the one who simply cannot. Stark and bleak and yet hopeful all in one single breath.

Cathro takes us on an unexpected, emotional, and poignant journey on how a "re-gift" can affect a couple who has suffered unimaginable loss and the differences of processing grief. So much is told, and unspoken, is this beautiful short play. I would love to see this developed into a longer play.

Brilliant. Stunning. The impact of this drama is exponentially greater than its mere 10-minute length.

How does DC Cathro shred one's heart in ten minutes? What sorcery is this? This short play is a wonderful exploration of two parents' grief, and how differently they cope with it. It's a beautiful exploration of the grieving process, how everyone handles it differently, and how in real life nothing wraps up neatly with a bow.

The only complaint I would ever have about Re-Gifted is I wish there was more of it. DC Cathro is the kind of playwright operating at a skill level of crafting human drama that I got at least 10 years of relational history and grief between our two players in just eight pages. A tear-jerker, surprisingly realistic, and giving way to a hopeful melancholy by the end. Excellent work.

Grief can bring people together, and it can crumble the foundations of a person's being. DC Cathro is a master at getting at the humanity of his characters with deft efficiency, and "Re-Gifted" is no exception to this. This is a moving, tragic drama that would be unforgettable on stage.

A contemporary tragedy that grabs your heart and refuses to let go. The fact that DC Cathro, with "Re-Gifted", accomplished this in just a few short minutes is a testament to his skill and incredible talent. This is a work that demands to be produced.