←Recommendations of Failing

Okay, so there's a sharp turn in this one. I don't want to give too much away, so just read it and prepare for a gut-punch. Also, teachers are severely underpaid.

"Failing" reminds us that being a teacher in the US requires so much more than the job description - especially with what we're facing currently. Erin Moughon packs so much into this short play, but always manages to find the heart and humor, even after the devastating twist. The fact that this IS HAPPENING in our country makes it even more devastating. And it makes me appreciate our educators even more. Thank you.

This remarkably affecting short two-hander starts as a teenage melodrama until a sudden (and, for this audience member, wholly unexpected) plot twist turns it into something much more. "Failing" turns into a celebration of everyday heroism and a potent reminder of all of our responsibilities for one another in these dark times. Which is a lot for a 20-minute play, but "Failing" pulls it off.

We all have that story about that one teacher we were convinced had it out for us, who turned out to be the most important friend we could ever have. Erin Moughon's FAILING sets this story against a horrific modern backdrop, for a harrowing and heartbreaking (and ever so slightly hopeful) dispatch from the front lines of contemporary education. A stunning piece of construction and an absolute gut-punch of a play.

What makes Erin Moughon's "Failing" such an incisive, gripping read is the fact that it takes so little time to make its statement. And as a writer I know full well the degree of talent it takes to do such. Funny and desperately heartbreaking. This is a piece for our time. Kudos!

I have never in my life been so emotionally impacted by such a short work of theatre. This piece is timely, potent, punchy, and incredibly effective at depicting the cruelty of ICE in the context of the modern American school system. I hope this piece will see many more readings in the future. Hands-down the most polished and impactful short play I have ever seen.

Having the good fortune to catch a live reading of Failing, I was impressed by how quickly Erin Moughon pulls the audience in through sharp, economical dialogue and two immediately engaging characters. The chemistry between them feels authentic from the start, making the eventual reveal of what is truly happening genuinely startling and effective. Timely, relevant, and compelling, Failing is a smart piece of theatre that stays with you.

It is no hyperbole when I tell you that this is one of the most impactful short plays I have ever encountered. I was fortunate enough to attend a reading of this piece at the Valdez Theatre Conference and it packed such a punch to the room, especially to the fellow educators in the crowd. Across the board, Moughon's writing is so clear and so effective (Special shoutout for writing an 18 year old who actually sounds like an 18 year old.) with very real stakes that hit fast and hard. Bravo.