Recommended by Paul Donnelly

What fun! The comic desperation of the show must go on mentality runs up against an initially reluctant stage manager. The stage manager's ultimate performance leads to a delightful mangling of the Nutcracker and great fun for the audience.

The pretension and ignorance of a mansplaining wannabe wine snob are painfully exposed in this delightful comedy. It's fun to watch Steve sink deeper and deeper into the hole he's digging for himself and fun to watch Clarissa and Marie attempt to control their reactions. But I have to wonder will Steve ever learn?

Well that was chockful of surprising and fascinating reversals! This play is thoroughly compelling from the first bit of misdirection to the final beat of Sam's resolution. These characters and their escalating tension held me firmly in their thrall from start to finish in their wickedly imaginative world.

George's mysterious urgency to dance is the compelling heart of this somewhat eerie, somewhat charming piece. His final address to Gloria suggested to me that the other characters exist to help him work out his difficulties with the play he is writing, but not knowing for sure gives this play real resonance and will have me thinking about it for some time to come.

What a dark and darkly funny Christmas fable! The Christmas tree is a font of dire warnings delivered with ironic humor. The string of revelations mixed with grand philosophical musings is moat compelling. This is a wonderful antidote to the usual Christmas treacle.

The two announcers offer a parody of hysterical sports commentary on the one hand and a string of absurdist non-sequitors on the other. They are highly amusing. And poor Gonzales ... well, read it yourself to see his fate.

Lisa Dellafiarino Feriend pulls off the high wire act of a farce rooted in tragedy brilliantly. The coach's total lack of a moral compass becomes funnier and funnier until it becomes effective. The decency of the three young football players initially provides a striking counterpoint. The final resolution points up the absurdity of the win at any cost mentality. This is a play that deserves to be seen both for its skill and its message.

When I first read the title of this play I felt seen. But the play, for all of its effective comic moments, is much too affecting to warrant a flippant response. Debbie's existential crisis really resonated for me and Mark's concern and decency were touching. Mark's final decision is on the surface very funny but it is also tinged with sadness. This is a compelling piece with two thoroughly engaging characters.

The Bartlebaums are certainly full of comic surprises. From their plethora of house rules to the things they find acceptable and the thing they don't, they are always goofily entertaining. Poor fish-out-of-water Dane doesn't stand a chance among these compulsive huggers. I raise a glass of Manischewitz in salute to the wit and heart of this play.

Gideon's mission to fulfill his Grammy's last request leads to comic complications and a life liberating recognition. Charming Jax facilitates both. It is a delight to learn about Grammy's colorful life and the advice that Gideon seems finally to take. This play is a real charmer.