Recommended by Paul Donnelly

A clever dissection of a competition between two great magicians that may last for all eternity. Poor Amber not only discovers she's dead, but also that she's stuck with these two. The question remains, will she ever succeed in mediating between them?

How lovely to see a healthy and nurturing parent/child relationship in action. Lisa's distress is palpable and her mother's efforts to alleviate it are heartfelt and ultimately effective. It seems that "Does it bring you joy?" depends on how one defines joy.

A tarot reading for skeptical Brooklyn serves to breakdown her internal barriers and reveals a profound internal truth. This engaging two-hander unfolds naturally as Brooklyn's resistance builds then crumbles. The surprise ending seems to offer the harmony and happiness predicted by the last card.

This achingly funny encounter between the titular people at a New Year's Eve party subverts every expectation of a holiday rom-com. Even the self-awareness which keeps them from connecting is wittily rendered. The SLP are vividly portrayed and completely engaging to this reader, if not to each other.

A potent exploration of the moral compromises that can be made, even at a very young age, to maintain a comfortable life. For this man knowledge is not power, but rather the source of a lifetime of guilt.

What starts out a creepy, but familiar, horror trope gains emotional heft as the secret of the space is revealed. The horror of the present doesn't hold a candle to the revealed horror of the past. This thoroughly gripping play offers a compelling mystery with a deeply disturbing backstory.

Ben's dating plans go wildly awry in this delightful comedy of contemporary manners. The twists and turns and reversals of this most engaging narrative are a delight to follow. This play is most deserving of the honors it has received. I hope it sees many more productions.

All the usual human stressors that plague any band lead to the break up the Five (!) Horsemen of the Apocalypse. These are revealed in hysterical interviews with band members as poor Annoyance tries to stake a claim to be part of the reunion tour. Names are used to great effect and the piece does a marvelous job of skewering the conventions of the "where are they now?" documentary form.

So demons get a bad rap from meat machine propaganda? These very funny demons are great company and they are able to inadvertently help El work through their enormous grief. This is a wild comedy with a big heart.

A couple preparing to enter a purely transactional marriage find that their humanity intrudes and makes it difficult to follow through on the transaction. There is a bracing mix of cynicism and romanticism at play here as Paul and Vera share a true journey, ending up at a very different place from where they started.