Recommended by Paul Donnelly

Such a moving portrait of a love that transcends loss of memory and the fears of aging. A lovely, lovely work.

Well that was quite the ride. From the very bizarre opening through the violence that follows to the eerie conclusion, this play is unsettling, darkly comic, and utterly riveting. Really, for all the strange twists and turns and the disturbing characters, this narrative grabbed me by the throat and didn't let go. This would be unforgettable on stage.

When does the effort suck the joy from the holidays? That's the question at the heart of this witty rumination on perhaps doing a little less. The interchange between the cat and the ornament provides a funny counterpoint to the more pragmatic exchange between the human couple.

Chilling, absolutely chilling. I am still shaken by the concluding beats of this crystal clear dystopian vision. For such a short piece this packs one hell of a punch.

The hateful Elf-on-the-Shelf gets the comeuppance it deserves from the titular striking elves. The comeuppance is theatrical and very wittily rendered. A highly satisfying work on many levels.

Been there, done that. I have shared Jesse's palpable frustration. Meanwhile, the hand choreography would be a delight to witness. And the final humiliation is a splendid topper and also familiar.

The naïve Magi are no more savvy than some aspiring playwrights as they go down the rabbit hole of unethical new play production practices. From submission fees to participation fees to the "carrot" of a single meager prize, the magi are exposed to it all. This play is so painfully funny because it hews so close to the painful truth.

Ludwig Van Beethoven, Carl Reiner and W.C. Fields walk into a bar ... well actually they materialize in a bedroom and the hilarity level exceeds anything that popular set up might suggest. This is an original and laugh-out-loud funny reflection on creativity and humor and the price of taking the wrong little pill.

This is an absorbing and original reflection on the process of growing u - the markers, the frustrations, the actions. It builds to a laugh-out-loud and especially resonant final line.

This is a moving and honest portrait of three men connecting at midlife and working through the challenges their differing life experience pose to their deepening connection. They attempt to support one another, sometimes succeeding, sometimes failing as in real life, through major life crises. This is a sometimes raw, sometimes heartening, but always compelling narrative.