Recommended by Andrew Martineau

CAPSTONE is, to me, a play about what connects us and how to feel about the connections, whether we want to have them or not. Bray weaves so many societal issues in this short, brilliant play and manages to connect the dots with a seemingly effortless touch. It had a John Irving vibe to it, and I mean that in the best way. The play manages to do what a Capstone essay cannot: bring complex, disparate ideas associated with corporate greed, bullying, disparities in educational funding, autism and twin bonding together and make us feel something. I love this play.

I thoroughly enjoyed this short play about a young woman whose job in the film industry was to check for continuity from shot to shot. Ever since watching the film Mank last year, I have loved reading plays about the golden era of moviemaking. This is the second play of Alice Josephs that I have read in this genre, and
she really has a great talent for transporting us to that world. I hope to read, and hopefully eventually see, some of her wonderful plays onstage. Very nicely done!

I am a little skeptical these days of any group with a Q in their name, and after reading this fantastic play about brainy, uber-competitive teens, I am still skeptical. I am not too sure Hi-Q either fosters intellect or builds character. What I love about this play is that it depicts a teen subculture not all that common in young adult drama: the so-called smart kids who want to win any cost. I also love that they take it upon themselves to decide who to oust, and that it’s not always who you might think. Hysterical!

I never knew where this little caper was headed and was intrigued the entire time by “the incident.” Loretta is an awesomely appealing character who comes off as intimidating and even a little threatening to the guys, who apparently come along to mitigate the danger, which Lamedman quickly spins to comic advantage. With lighthearted feminist undertones, this play is surprising and delightful. Loretta would be a fun character for a series of her own!

There is a certain degree of naive sweetness and optimism in this bleak futuristic world of devastation and hopelessness that would be emotionally satisfying in a live performance. Like Thurber’s “The Last Flower,” Caffrey uses irony in this cautionary tale to its fullest advantage. The ending is quite powerful. Wonderful play for young actors and audiences.

The meeting of two people connected through grief of a mutual person they both deeply loved is a beautiful requiem for this young man whom we never really meet. Through art, poetry and intimate memories, we feel his warmth and sensitivity and ache for these two who both need something tangible to deal with the pain. This is a wonderful play for strong actors and a creative production team. Beautifully crafted piece!

There is an intriguing contrast between the serious sibling discussion about who is "responsible" for their mother's death and the routine physical workout happening simultaneously. The play shows us how grief, depression and complex feelings of psychological parental abuse affect a family, even when family members try to suppress or escape their true feelings. Natural dialogue and a strong conflict make for a short play that could spark interesting post-show discussions. Well done.

Bargaining with death is a common human conflict, and Dzubak has created a fresh take on this negotiation with a very sincere, upstanding young man who makes a strong case in his own defense. It is heartwarming to read about a husband bringing flowers to his wife on their anniversary and possibly being allowed to show her how much he truly loves her. Does he deserve more time? It is a profound question, and the ending gives us a clear answer. Nicely done!

The character development of the mother in this brief, beautifully crafted play should be studied in playwriting classes. That is not to say it shouldn’t be brought to life on stage for actors and audiences to relish because it definitely should be. “Normal is just a setting on a dryer, Jack,” the mom says after hearing her son reveal to his sister what his friends used to say about her. This mom is pure love. Radiant character, interesting plot twist, and highly engrossing language!

This short play is a very funny fable about how we treat animals and take them in to meet our expectations for some inexplicable reason. Who doesn’t love a sassy cat character, especially one who doesn’t feel the need to break into song and dance? This would be a fun piece for a fast-paced comedy short festival. Zany and entertaining!