Recommended by Paul Donnelly

It's hard to stand up to societal pressure when you hate the holidays. All of them. But what a relief to get the truth out as Veruth does in this hysterically funny look at rejecting holiday "cheer." Even the dark ending evokes laughter. The dialogue is artfully constructed and the theme more universal than many would admit.

A clever take on the afterlife and the impact that one soul in Limbo can have on the reality left behind. Tommy's responses to each new thing he learns are very funny and relatable. The twist at the end made me laugh out loud. But don't take my word for it, read this play yourself!

The poisonous effects of money and assumptions and family roles (once the older sister, always the older sister) are thoughtfully and thoroughly explored in this witty and occasionally tense two hander. That these two sisters come out the other side with their bond intact is a most heartening conclusion.

World building is such a difficult art, but Floyd-Priskorn manages it brilliantly. The world she creates is specific and layered and very, very funny. The outsider thrown into this world is movingly transformed by her experience there. But we are all better off for having visited Flurk's shop in The Darkness.

North is a poignant portrait of a man who stubbornly clings to his values long after they are constructive in his life. Leo's independence and self-reliance ultimately extract a terrible cost as his mental faculties fade. Like the tragic hero he is, Leo is the agent of his own demise. Leo, Susan, and Michael are vivid and compellingly drawn characters who will stay with me for a long time to come.

This is a masterful exercise in misdirection leading to a shocking twist ending. My heart was in my throat throughout Anne's troubled and troubling confession. The danger she is in is real and saying anymore would ruin the surprise that you should definitely experience for yourself.

A fun set-up, engaging characters, and witty dialogue make this play a real treat. James's late father's reaction to the vehicle for his brief return to the living is utterly priceless. That James is able to accomplish his goals for making contact with his father offers a touching conclusion.

What a lovely and wistful exploration of one woman's negotiation of the intersection of the past and the present. A first kiss from a long-ago crush releases Eva into an independent and hopeful future. This charming play amusingly reveals that life can begin at any age.

What a witty depiction of a most lusty first date. It is refreshing to see senior citizens be unabashedly sexual and funny to see the facts of aging come into play. Great fun with two wonderful roles for mature actors.

Beware of strolls down memory lane. Especially with an ex you haven't really gotten over. What seems like a sweet reconciliation becomes something else entirely with the twisted twist at the end. Very funny stuff all the way through.