Recommended by Andrew Martineau

This is my kind of play to watch (and works remarkably well on the page, as well); it’s thought-provoking and has tension and clearly delineated characters. It has suspense
and an ambiguity that makes you think. It reflects on the value of life, the complex nature of justice and privilege, and it has great roles for two actors. Who could ask for more?

This is a thought-provoking, highly relevant play about human expectations and how sometimes our problems with emotions is that what we feel and what we expect can often be on very different courses. I think it also speaks to the nature of purpose in serving others and being served, and how service in and of itself is not what automatically fulfills us. A fascinating, expertly written piece.

This play was devastating, and it speaks to a parent’s desire to protect their child, despite the very real threats out in the world that no amount of protection can always circumvent. I used to make up stories at bedtime to tell my kids, so I was taken in by the mother’s imaginative ways of describing things, especially thunder. I was not prepared for the ending, and I think that was Rachel Feeny-Williams’ point. Some things we can’t prepare for, or feel hopeful about, even when a rainbow appears.

It is true that bears can be frightening animals, unless we put ourselves in their place to try to understand their worldview. Add a little Ann Rice style, cryptic narration from a vampire's point of view, and you get a very original, suspenseful story that is both scary and poignant--not an easy combination to pull off. Plumridge allows enough room for a director and actor to have a field day of creative possibilities with this monologue. This is the second BEAR monologue I have read, and I am definitely hooked!

I was completely drawn into this very original ghost story about two men seeking to discredit two seemingly capable psychics. There is an intriguing story of murder that the psychics seem to be channeling that reveals some deep-seated family trauma, and I loved each piece of the puzzle that was slowly revealed in dramatic fashion. Thoroughly entertaining piece.

I was reminded of so many onstage pranks and eccentric actors from my own days in community theatre while reading Jacquie Floyd-Priskorn’s very funny play, which I found to be a “true delight”! I know so many actors who would relish chewing the scenery and getting huge laughs, if they could keep a straight face themselves! I would love to see this with some intentionally over-the-top scenery and costumes.

“The Tear in the Roof” is a mesmerizingly suspenseful radio play that had a strong naturalistic element coupled with a possible supernatural component to make its audience question what is real and what might be a nightmare. Could it be a combination of both elements at play? The ambiguity of this scenario is what really makes it chilling. What begins as a celebration of love turns nightmarish no matter how we imagine it. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The visceral, transcendent quality of this play perfectly complements the isolation evoked in the Edward Hopper painting. There is a feeling in the beginning of the play that the isolation is broken by an encounter between an older and younger artist, but is it? The sliced cake metaphor is astonishingly original. Beautifully written and heartbreaking.

The description in this origin story of a seemingly cute teddy bear is highly captivating, with a remarkable sense of danger, intrigue and looming horror. I love stories that could work in multiple genres, and I particularly like the thought of this bear standing on a stage, telling their tale with a intense need to share it. I can’t wait to read more, and hopefully one day, see more!

The two sisters may feel lost as they travel to pay their last respects to their father they have little respect or love for, but they discover so much in the process. This is a wonderfully uplifting short drama, despite the feelings of regret and animosity that the siblings share. A nuanced piece for two skilled actors.