I like to find the tragic in the comic and vice versa. I don't believe we as humans are blended very thoroughly so what is ridiculous in each of us is pressed tight against what is noble and grand. We're like old car radios that have gospel stations squeezed between bands of trash metal, punk, folk and dour business reporting, so once you even barely touch the dial, a whole new world will appear.

These pieces are roughly centered around themes of love, sex, relationships and death, so, obviously, they're meant to be comedies.

As comedies, there are a quite a few things which shouldn't be taken too seriously. Nudity, for instance. The human body is beautiful, and for players willing or eager to display their bodies, I salute your commitment to the theater and to the fidelity of the text - please send me an invitation as I would love to see your performance. For players and directors who prefer to simulate nudity through costuming, clever positioning of props or simply by making us think you're naked through the power of your on-stage skills, I salute your inventiveness, your modesty and your unwillingness to distract the audience with gratuitous displays of flesh - please send me an invitation as I would love to see your performance.

Likewise gender. In matters of love, sex, relationships and death, does gender really matter? The he's and she's of my plays should be taken as suggestions rather than mandates. It's all good.

- A.B. / 2026