Recommended by Andrew Martineau

There is so much to unpack in this brief play about how and why we tell stories and whom we decide to make the stories about. Can we redeem past mistakes by telling a story the way we think others will accept it, even it doesn’t change the reality of the situation because there is no atonement? Intriguing questions raised here with bold humor and fascinating characters and unexpected twists along the way. I would love to see this staged.

If this little tale about a couple willing to show each other how much the other one means to them at Christmas doesn’t put you in a good mood, I don’t know what would. The humor really works to not only make us laugh out loud, but also to show how much these characters are bonded and have a deep, loving commitment to each other. It got me in the holiday spirit in the middle of a hot, humid August!

I really enjoyed this play about a common problem many of us have on a semi-regular basis: remembering names. I love the line about remembering a conversation they had about dreams involving resurrection, and they can’t remember each other’s names! Why can’t we use name tags at parties like we do at conventions? The world would be a happier place, but then this play would lose its very funny conflict!

I love the realism of a couple arguing about a cat, and then having an absurd representation of the cat appear, only to have things evolve with an actual historical figure from the past emerging to try to sort things out. Absurd in a truly inspired fashion. Theatrical, funny and a little mind-blowing. I would love to see this with my own eyes. Yes, please.

I enjoyed the zany shenanigans of this family comedy. It has a fast-paced quirkiness to it that reminded me of sitcoms from the '80s and '90s. I like that Sandy is the glue holding the family together, and I can only imagine the fun that the actor playing the dad and the costume designer would have with the tight pants. A funny and well-plotted short play!

This play has it all--mystery, affection, jealousy, grief for a beloved pet, along with a little racy fun at the end! It's so tightly constructed that you don't even realize you have experienced a carefully crafted play with a strong plot and believable characters, all in just five minutes. I can also imagine the fun of constructing the huge number of trash props. Highly enjoyable!

Sometimes we spend so much time in our heads thinking about what we could be missing out on, we don’t appreciate the here and now, and more importantly, who we are spending time with. Cohen’s play hit me with this feeling of ennui at the very end and made me contemplate the many times I have been in similar situations and missed out. A very smart, intriguing short play.

I will admit I am a sucker for Christmas stories and monologues. Just mention Dylan Thomas and his recollections of the holiday and I am there for it. Dave Patton has crafted a Christmas monologue for our times, complete with cross-cultural references and a Scrooge-like Karen to boot! This has both biting humor and an appropriate helping of sentimentality. I know this would be a big hit at a festive holiday show.

Having grown up in a small southern town, I can usually tell when the dialogue doesn’t ring true for the region, and SUGAR PIE is as authentic as sweet tea with an extra spoonful of sweetness thrown in for good measure! I love how sincere and enduring these two characters are, and I was rooting for them to find their happiness some kinda way. Funny, truthful, and wonderful!

The Shirley Jackson vibe in this short play is incredible, and I love the idea of taking one of the goofiest wedding customs and taking the sinister route. The low key dialogue doesn’t prepare you for the ending and that’s the point, I am sure. Perfect title, too!