Recommended by Andrew Martineau

This is the kind of lighthearted comedy with slightly dark overtones that were very common in another era but less so today. I don’t think it’s because audiences like them less; rather, they may take more effort to write to get the tone and cadence right. I really enjoyed it!

Whenever I read a monologue that is a story and not necessarily directed toward a specific person, I try to imagine how it would be staged. My mind ran through multiple creative choices, which for me speaks to the originality of the piece. I imagined Suzy eventually taking off her shoes to show her newfound confidence in her feet. I also imagined it performed by an actor with average-sized feet, which would reveal another, very different character choice. Either way, it would be great for auditions. It would really stand out!

I really love this play. It's highly theatrical and moving in all the best possible ways. I felt myself wanting to tell Abigail to let Andy know he was letting social pressures ruin their friendship, but you get the sense that she will never be able to have an equal footing with him. Okay, she doesn't have feet, but it shouldn't matter. Beautiful message and funny, too!

In this brief but powerful play about the need for touch, especially with a loved one or partner, Deray reflects on the uncertainty of our pandemic and how we will come out of it as a species. The thought of being changed for the better is hopeful. This would a wonderful play to see and experience as it should be seen, with physical touch restored, and when hopefully everyone will be just a little bit kinder. Really wonderful!

BETRAYAL has an intriguing premise of a doctor-patient relationship that has taken a turn for the worse. The conflict is highly dramatic, and the dialogue is sharp. These characters offer two actors a chance to explore a high stakes situation with complex intentions. There are many boundaries that have been crossed, and Rachel Feeny-Williams creates a captivating story from start to finish.

This play reminds all of us who are parents during a pandemic that we are just doing the best we can, but a seemingly simple task like writing and mailing Valentine cards with the kids can seem like the last straw. The dialogue is very natural and believable. O’Neill-Butler aptly paints a loving couple realizing how good they really have it. Very touching!

Do these characters say what they mean or mean what they say? That is the question that I had while reading this highly interesting exchange of existential miscommunication. There is so much to marvel at in how the intended messages get stalled, with great humor. Wonderful piece for a couple of actors!

The most intriguing aspect of this play is the way in which Eppich-Harris takes an awkward situation, a first date, makes it even more awkward by introducing this overzealous teenage couple with initially unclear intentions, and then surprises us at the end with how the conflict has developed. This would so much fun to watch!

The father in this wonderfully funny and poignant play about three grown siblings in a car looms large, and that is how he wanted it. Excuse me, wants it. His message to his kids is profound and shows us how parents can help their children even through the grieving process. The dialogue is first rate. The final moment hit me with the feels, and in the best possible way. Truly enjoyable!

LONG LOST FRIEND has a fascinating, supernatural aspect to it, but what struck me about it on an emotional level was how relevant it is to our times now. With so many deeply sad stories of patients dying without family members around to hold their hands, this story resonated with me, even though it has nothing to do with the pandemic. Nya is a dynamic, multidimensional character. I would love to see this play.