Recommended by Richard Lyons Conlon

  •

    How do you tell the stories of the hordes of people who passed through Ellis Island? Syran has done just that with her magical play "Ellis Island Ahead!". In fact, she's telling the story of all America and of all immigrants whether they went through E.I. or not.

    I marvel that a play can seem so epic and yet so intimate at the same time. Syran gives us a grand tour of Ellis Island, the place, and Ellis Island, the point in time, using fast-moving scenes and ever-changing characters (with myriad languages, accents, stories, songs, poems, and more). Excellent!

    How do you tell the stories of the hordes of people who passed through Ellis Island? Syran has done just that with her magical play "Ellis Island Ahead!". In fact, she's telling the story of all America and of all immigrants whether they went through E.I. or not.

    I marvel that a play can seem so epic and yet so intimate at the same time. Syran gives us a grand tour of Ellis Island, the place, and Ellis Island, the point in time, using fast-moving scenes and ever-changing characters (with myriad languages, accents, stories, songs, poems, and more). Excellent!

  •

    Filled with a great deal of heart, broken and otherwise, this is the story of David Larsen, the emotional “rock” for family and friends. A lifetime of accumulated knowledge AND wisdom make David the person everyone turns to for advice and inspiration. But now, dementia is taking David away. Without being maudlin, this play movingly portrays the devastating effects of dementia, while still joyously celebrating a life. A terrific ensemble piece with memorable characters you get to know intimately.

    Filled with a great deal of heart, broken and otherwise, this is the story of David Larsen, the emotional “rock” for family and friends. A lifetime of accumulated knowledge AND wisdom make David the person everyone turns to for advice and inspiration. But now, dementia is taking David away. Without being maudlin, this play movingly portrays the devastating effects of dementia, while still joyously celebrating a life. A terrific ensemble piece with memorable characters you get to know intimately.

  •

    A perfectly lovely murder mystery featuring the shrewd and delightful Stillwell sisters, amateur English sleuths whose combined powers of observation and deduction uncover the murderer. The mystery is compellingly unraveled amidst the charming interplay between Dorethea and Margarite. One sister is intuitive, one is analytical. So much fun as they come to the aid of Police Inspector Harry Collins in his stalled investigation of a masked murder at a Halloween masquerade party. Beautifully written for radio — I could hear it play out as I read! The Stillwells are right up there with the best of...

    A perfectly lovely murder mystery featuring the shrewd and delightful Stillwell sisters, amateur English sleuths whose combined powers of observation and deduction uncover the murderer. The mystery is compellingly unraveled amidst the charming interplay between Dorethea and Margarite. One sister is intuitive, one is analytical. So much fun as they come to the aid of Police Inspector Harry Collins in his stalled investigation of a masked murder at a Halloween masquerade party. Beautifully written for radio — I could hear it play out as I read! The Stillwells are right up there with the best of Agatha Christie sleuths.

    read more

  • Doug Devita has given us a multitude of gifts in this fast-paced comedy set in a New York ad agency. Poor Kyle, a youngish art director at a high-powered agency is just trying to find love and fulfillment in his life and his work, but is being stymied at every turn by agency politics and vindictive higher-ups. This play can work at many levels: as an almost comedic farce, but also as an unexpectedly touching human drama, as Kyle finds unexpected friendship and meaning when paired with an old relic writing partner, whose story is both touching and inspiring.

    Doug Devita has given us a multitude of gifts in this fast-paced comedy set in a New York ad agency. Poor Kyle, a youngish art director at a high-powered agency is just trying to find love and fulfillment in his life and his work, but is being stymied at every turn by agency politics and vindictive higher-ups. This play can work at many levels: as an almost comedic farce, but also as an unexpectedly touching human drama, as Kyle finds unexpected friendship and meaning when paired with an old relic writing partner, whose story is both touching and inspiring.

  •

    Doug Devita has given us a multitude of gifts in this fast-paced comedy set in a New York ad agency. Poor Kyle, a youngish art director at a high-powered agency is just trying to find love and fulfillment in his life and his work, but is being stymied at every turn by agency politics and vindictive higher-ups. This play can work at many levels: as an almost comedic farce, but also as an unexpectedly touching human drama, as Kyle finds unexpected friendship and meaning when paired with an old relic writing partner, whose story is both touching and inspiring.

    Doug Devita has given us a multitude of gifts in this fast-paced comedy set in a New York ad agency. Poor Kyle, a youngish art director at a high-powered agency is just trying to find love and fulfillment in his life and his work, but is being stymied at every turn by agency politics and vindictive higher-ups. This play can work at many levels: as an almost comedic farce, but also as an unexpectedly touching human drama, as Kyle finds unexpected friendship and meaning when paired with an old relic writing partner, whose story is both touching and inspiring.

  • Richard Lyons Conlon: Appetizers, or "On an Island Somewhere" by Scott Sickles
    “

    This is a lovely, disturbing, terrifying cautionary tale. Perhaps not so cautionary, as this “Handmaid’s Tale”-adjacent scenario may not be that far off. Sickles presents deeply conflicted characters in an unnatural – and let’s face it, evil – scenario, and makes them, and the scenario, distressingly believable. An extremely well-done ten-minute journey that should make us all stand up and scream about what’s happening right now in our world. Because worlds like Sickles has created here don’t spring into existence overnight. Or without a lot of complicity and complacency.

    This is a lovely, disturbing, terrifying cautionary tale. Perhaps not so cautionary, as this “Handmaid’s Tale”-adjacent scenario may not be that far off. Sickles presents deeply conflicted characters in an unnatural – and let’s face it, evil – scenario, and makes them, and the scenario, distressingly believable. An extremely well-done ten-minute journey that should make us all stand up and scream about what’s happening right now in our world. Because worlds like Sickles has created here don’t spring into existence overnight. Or without a lot of complicity and complacency.

    ”
  • Richard Lyons Conlon: Vortigern - A True Story by Joshua Fardon
    “

    I’m amazed at how much I enjoyed this play! For a period piece about a “lost” Shakespeare play, it just simply moves, pulling you along relentlessly on a brilliant literary joyride. The action flows seamlessly from scene to scene and the richly depicted characters are charming, involving, and uniquely motivated -- their dialogue crisp and authentic to the times and the story. It reads like a caper, while giving the era the gravitas and respect it deserves. Really a brilliant work, this is a play Shakespeare devotees will love, as will the rest of us. Great cerebral entertainment.

    I’m amazed at how much I enjoyed this play! For a period piece about a “lost” Shakespeare play, it just simply moves, pulling you along relentlessly on a brilliant literary joyride. The action flows seamlessly from scene to scene and the richly depicted characters are charming, involving, and uniquely motivated -- their dialogue crisp and authentic to the times and the story. It reads like a caper, while giving the era the gravitas and respect it deserves. Really a brilliant work, this is a play Shakespeare devotees will love, as will the rest of us. Great cerebral entertainment.

    ”
  • Richard Lyons Conlon: Performance Anxiety [Or, On Being Late To A Virtual Work Call] by David Lipschutz
    “

    Playwright Lipschutz delivers a ton of meta fun and a lot to think about in this hilarious take on the bane of everyone’s existence in these pandemical times: the Zoom call. He manages to send up both business Zooms and theatrical play Zooms -- and the surreal angst both can create. This would be such a fun play to produce and to experience. I hope I can see it one day – live, not streaming!

    Playwright Lipschutz delivers a ton of meta fun and a lot to think about in this hilarious take on the bane of everyone’s existence in these pandemical times: the Zoom call. He manages to send up both business Zooms and theatrical play Zooms -- and the surreal angst both can create. This would be such a fun play to produce and to experience. I hope I can see it one day – live, not streaming!

    ”
  • Richard Lyons Conlon: Ellis Island Ahead! by Nora Louise Syran
    “

    How do you tell the stories of the hordes of people who passed through Ellis Island? Syran has done just that with her magical play "Ellis Island Ahead!". In fact, she's telling the story of all America and of all immigrants whether they went through E.I. or not.
     
    I marvel that a play can seem so epic and yet so intimate at the same time. Syran gives us a grand tour of Ellis Island, the place, and Ellis Island, the point in time, using fast-moving scenes and ever-changing characters (with myriad languages, accents, stories, songs, poems, and more). Excellent!

    How do you tell the stories of the hordes of people who passed through Ellis Island? Syran has done just that with her magical play "Ellis Island Ahead!". In fact, she's telling the story of all America and of all immigrants whether they went through E.I. or not.
     
    I marvel that a play can seem so epic and yet so intimate at the same time. Syran gives us a grand tour of Ellis Island, the place, and Ellis Island, the point in time, using fast-moving scenes and ever-changing characters (with myriad languages, accents, stories, songs, poems, and more). Excellent!

    ”
  • Richard Lyons Conlon: MODERN MIRACLE by Steven G. Martin
    “

    Hilarious rethinking and updating of two classic biblical tales: the feeding of the masses and the last supper. Except here everything goes wrong, thanks to a group of obnoxious friends Jesús is trying desperately to feed and to please in his new apartment. The only miracle here is that he wants to be friends with these over-demanding, super-picky people! Extremely funny play. This would be so much fun to stage . . . or to watch!

    Hilarious rethinking and updating of two classic biblical tales: the feeding of the masses and the last supper. Except here everything goes wrong, thanks to a group of obnoxious friends Jesús is trying desperately to feed and to please in his new apartment. The only miracle here is that he wants to be friends with these over-demanding, super-picky people! Extremely funny play. This would be so much fun to stage . . . or to watch!

    ”