←Recommendations of Uncomplicated Bereavement

Not where I thought it was going - but a DELICIOUS surprise. Grief and big moments can bring big feelings. Sometimes, those feelings collide...between the pews....aggressively.

A well-crafted one-act play that has intriguing characters, an unusual setting, and a plot with a surprise ending. The dialogue is funny, fast-paced, and realistic. I would love to see this staged! Bravo!

A chance meeting at a funeral between two strangers turns into a strong connection that helps the bereaved daughter re-enter life and sex. Loved the line by her brother, "Though not perhaps at this moment." Great ending, one that ends in laughter and a dream fulfilled.

In the midst of bereavement and sorrow is when we need that spark of life and connection the most. Beautiful.

What happens at a funeral stays at the funeral. You have to love how uncomplicated this bereavement turns out to be. Self-sacrifice is complicated and there are times - when release is welcome. Sickles deliciously combines loss and sex with truths and action. There is definitely a celebration of life at this funeral.

A smart and wry comedy about families and mourning with an unexpected twist. Sickles adeptly captures the complex feelings that arise around loss and death.

I second Bruce Bonafede's "evil genius who worships at the altar of Satan" remark in his recommendation! Sickles takes a wickedly funny, darkly true look at grieving and comes up with hilarity. We can certainly relate to Sarah and Elliot's loss, but also their wry disdain for the trappings that come with funeral proceedings. Sickles' writing would be a wonderful, welcome addition to any festival, unless it's a festival for plays that are unfun and on their best behavior. Pitch black and pitch perfect.

Scott Sickles is an evil genius who worships at the altar of Satan!...Okay, not really, though I'm sure there are plenty of religious nuts who would find this play sacrilegious to say the least. I found it delightful -- outrageous yet completely credible which, considering the content, is very difficult to pull off. Any further comment would risk a spoiler, so I'll leave it at that except to say this is a very entertaining short play. Well done!