Recommended by Paul Donnelly

An inspired and inspiring portrait of reluctant travelers on a involuntary trip to Mars. There are numerous moments of high comedy and tender moments of real human connection. This play would be a delight to see staged.

How do you reconcile with the father who almost murdered ... excuse me, sacrificed you? That's the premise of this warm and surprisingly comic play. Isaac and Abraham are both men in enormous pain who work their way through to reconciliation. This is a play of enormous wisdom, tenderness, and wit.

Gerta's no nonsense approach to the simple task before her is insanely funny. One can't help but wonder, given her matter-of-fact expertise, how many times she has performed this simple task. And what's not to love in a woman who drinks Mr. PIbb?

A lovely moment in time is rendered with wit and emotional honesty. A couple's bickering masks anxiety which masks a profound and enduring love. Watching the masks slip away is the heart of this ultimately quite moving comedy.

This is a very specific story about one young man with autism and his complex relationship with his advocate mother. It is also a universal story of a parent struggling to let go of control and a young adult's struggle for independence. It is exhilarating to see Zachary find and express his own voice after years of well-meaning suppression.

A thoughtful, almost meditative study of the connection between two brothers. A connection that, while authentic and sustaining, leaves each with mysteries intact. There is also masterful use of silent communication and of the natural world ... a tree and the stars and the sky are almost additional characters. A most original and engaging work.

Poor Jesus, it would take a true miracle worker to satisfy the diverse needs of his self-absorbed friends. This nifty comedy skewers food faddism and bad, bad guests while also presenting a portrait of a hapless host. And it re-affirms one of my core beliefs, pizza is the answer to everything.

A brisk and funny and ultimately chilling comedy about class-based prejudice and suburban bigotry. The metaphor that emerges perfectly captures the way in which both couples are trapped by the roles they have chosen and the roles that were thrust upon them.

A withering depiction of what front line workers had to endure at the height of the Covid epidemic. The characters are clearly drawn and their conflict clearly delineated. It is a tribute to this playwright's craft that I was emotionally drained by the end of the piece.

What a fun and funny look at a most unusual first date. The twist ending is suitably surprising and in the final beat quite charming.