Recommended by Paul Donnelly

What a lovely portrait of grief and a shared life and ultimate reconciliation. These four characters each take a powerful journey to get to a heartening resolution. There are so many details of their connections and their losses that ring absolutely true. This is a work of real power and resonance.

What starts out as an effective satire of our there is no such thing as a private life culture evolves into something more affecting and profound. The coming out experience that seemed so in danger of being trivialized is given its true and resonant due. Lovely work.

A lovely portrait of the tenacity of grief and the failure of well-meaning others to respect the grieving process. Maxine's ultimate triumph is truly moving.

For too long poor Tommy Jon has been collateral damage in Dodie's diet frenzies. Here he speaks his mind and finds his peace. The final image of Dodie and Tommy Jon's final assertion provide a nice double kicker at the end of this very funny monologue.

dodie

Poor Gretchen seems willing to acknowledge she has a problem but does not seem capable of actually addressing it in this very funny satire on 12-step groups and workaholism. Gretchen is a masterfully constructed comic creation whose journey (or lack thereof) is most credibly rendered.

A casual hook-up turns out to be anything but casual between these damaged and sympathetic men. The crackling dialogue allows each to reveal his inner demons and to achieve his painful resolution. The narrative becomes progressively more gripping as the stakes rise and revelations are forced. We share an honest journey with three vividly drawn and complex characters whose stories could not be more compellingly rendered.

The pull of an undeniable mutual attraction meets the push of fear of commitment in this lovely romance. But snails lead the way to a final satisfying resolution. This play gets the awkwardness of unacknowledged attraction and the joy of ultimately moving beyond the awkwardness just right.

This is a riveting exploration of the power and the limits of the love between brothers and the fine line between care and suffocation. Jake has always been the golden boy until his world implodes, and Ethan has always been seen and treated as less than. Ethan finally gets his chance to make his way in the world, however difficult that way may be. The dynamic between the brothers is explored with tenderness and empathy that make the heartbreaking moments all the more compelling.

A quarrelsome couple finds a funny way to reinforce their bond, a bond that receives mystical endorsement. Their frustrations are real and well-depicted, but so are their points of connection. This wonderful play builds to an eminently satisfying conclusion. Asks for a sign, get a sign - we should all be so lucky!

The simple act of answering an apartment to sublet ad goes horribly awry in this ten-minute journey out of loneliness. Shannon and Laura, two very different people, bond over a unique experience that we hope has comic, rather than tragic consequences. The dialogue is witty and the situation unexpected in most engaging ways.