Recommended by Paul Donnelly

Mary's world, for all her self-delusion and poignancy, is wittily rendered. There are echoes of Sunset Boulevard, although Mary is not as batshit crazy and Tommy doesn't end up floating in a pool. The clash of generational values and experience provides a great deal of humor. And our host Ben Mankiewicz sets the comic tone and has what is for my money the funniest line in the play.

Beyond the witty skewering of the conventions of ten-minute play festivals, this play makes a serious point about racism and white privilege, both through the content of a ten-minute play and Barb's resistance to exploring them. This is truly a wonderful short play, packed with both humor and meaning.

What starts as a dark, dystopian horror show veers skillfully into meta territory. There is a satisfying progression from dark to light. And for a piece that starts so dark that progression is quite the accomplishment.

So much fun in only a minute in this Gaelic spin on Soylent Green. Even the stage directions are hilarious.

Under the delightfully wacky premise and the howlingly funny dialogue, there runs a bit of poignancy. Not enough to spoil the fun, but enough to give it ballast. Rick certainly throws a most unusual Holiday Party, and the reader/viewer is privileged to witness it.

So Charlie is definitely not afraid of the dark, right? That's not how Cosmo sees it. Cosmo who has been lurking under Charlie's bed since he was five and who has no intention of giving up his privileged position as Charlie prepares to move away. Cosmo's machinations are the center of this warm, witty, and engaging play.

Sometimes it takes a while to discover one's true calling. But after many relatable misfires, what a calling this one proves to be. Dare I say that this is a bewitching monologue?

How do adult siblings recover from the manipulation of their bitterly divorced parents? This brother and sister lead disparate lives. Their longing for connection is disrupted by misplaced blame and bitterness. Their initial interactions are cagey and defensive. Through a series of difficult reveals their walls come down and we are left with the hope that they can start anew. These characters are brilliantly illuminated by the honesty of Heyman's dialogue and perspective.

"Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," A friendship the Traveler may not be entering entirely voluntarily. Their journey with Dr. Hasenpfeffer is one of unbridled lunacy. Laughs spring cleverly from the setting, the characters, and the deliciously funny dialogue. This is a riotous farce from beginning to end.

This is a charming and very real feeling rom-com. It's hard not to sympathize with goofy Arnie and his misguided plan to get Katie's attention. It's not hard at all to understand why members of the club are attracted to grounded and compassionate Katie. It is heartening to see this lovely play end on a hopeful note.