Recommended by Paul Donnelly

  • Paul Donnelly: Just Another Toaster Play

    All I can say to Daughter is "vive la resistance!" The story of Daughter and her fraught relationship with toast is funny and weird and utterly gripping. My money's on Daughter at the unresolved ending, but some may favor the Toaster. Read it and decide for yourself.

    All I can say to Daughter is "vive la resistance!" The story of Daughter and her fraught relationship with toast is funny and weird and utterly gripping. My money's on Daughter at the unresolved ending, but some may favor the Toaster. Read it and decide for yourself.

  • Paul Donnelly: Veterans of Community Theatre

    This painfully true to life comedy is exceptionally funny. Every bad cast party ever is distilled into ten hilarious minutes. Each character is vivid in their own way and their collisions lead to a glorious payoff.

    This painfully true to life comedy is exceptionally funny. Every bad cast party ever is distilled into ten hilarious minutes. Each character is vivid in their own way and their collisions lead to a glorious payoff.

  • Paul Donnelly: Husk

    A haunting and compelling exploration of two people discovering the meaning of death and the consequences of causing it. The weighty material is leavened with almost slapstick comedy (some stage directions alone are a hoot). This piece grabbed me from the opening beat and held fast through the chilling final image.

    A haunting and compelling exploration of two people discovering the meaning of death and the consequences of causing it. The weighty material is leavened with almost slapstick comedy (some stage directions alone are a hoot). This piece grabbed me from the opening beat and held fast through the chilling final image.

  • Paul Donnelly: Fences

    A lonely and embittered young man strikes up a friendship with the girl next door. It gives him joy and sustenance. As the friendship deepens he learns dark things about the young woman's life. Just as he attempts to rescue her, the darkest secret of all emerges and he is left to question everything that came before. A finely crafted portrait of young romance turned on its head with great skill.

    A lonely and embittered young man strikes up a friendship with the girl next door. It gives him joy and sustenance. As the friendship deepens he learns dark things about the young woman's life. Just as he attempts to rescue her, the darkest secret of all emerges and he is left to question everything that came before. A finely crafted portrait of young romance turned on its head with great skill.

  • Paul Donnelly: What we need at the end of the day…

    The hardest thing of all, I think, is to forgive without forgetting. Molly and Dean are together at the bedside of the father who abandoned them struggling with this very dilemma. This moving play gives full weight to many of the emotions people experience in this situation. We are left with the profound question: Is it possible that we forgive for ourselves and not for the forgiven?

    The hardest thing of all, I think, is to forgive without forgetting. Molly and Dean are together at the bedside of the father who abandoned them struggling with this very dilemma. This moving play gives full weight to many of the emotions people experience in this situation. We are left with the profound question: Is it possible that we forgive for ourselves and not for the forgiven?

  • Paul Donnelly: CHOMP

    Some people will say anything to get out of a family wedding. Or could the final explanation be the truth? And if it is what does that mean for Tammi and Beau's future? These are questions wittily answered in CHOMP, a sweet love story with an enormous twist.

    Some people will say anything to get out of a family wedding. Or could the final explanation be the truth? And if it is what does that mean for Tammi and Beau's future? These are questions wittily answered in CHOMP, a sweet love story with an enormous twist.

  • Paul Donnelly: Welcome, We Are Now Closed.

    A meticulously detailed and thoroughly engrossing portrait of the dissolution of a particular little world. The large cast of characters are all unique and clearly defined, and the patterns of their relationships and shared history are vividly revealed. There is so much more to say about particular incidents, but those comments would only be spoilers. Suffice it to say that I heartily recommend reading and producing this play.

    A meticulously detailed and thoroughly engrossing portrait of the dissolution of a particular little world. The large cast of characters are all unique and clearly defined, and the patterns of their relationships and shared history are vividly revealed. There is so much more to say about particular incidents, but those comments would only be spoilers. Suffice it to say that I heartily recommend reading and producing this play.

  • Paul Donnelly: Prelude to a Hostile Takeover

    The amorality of modern political campaigns is perfectly reflected in Olivia's campaign to be Ladybug Troup Leader. There's something revelatory and horrifying about seeing these children so consumed with ambition that they behave without conscience. This play is hysterically funny, but ultimately pretty disturbing.

    The amorality of modern political campaigns is perfectly reflected in Olivia's campaign to be Ladybug Troup Leader. There's something revelatory and horrifying about seeing these children so consumed with ambition that they behave without conscience. This play is hysterically funny, but ultimately pretty disturbing.

  • Paul Donnelly: Cupid Retires to Palm Beach, Florida

    Go Cupid, go! Many of us who live in Florida have the impulse to react exactly like Cupid. They are an inspiration and a delight.

    Go Cupid, go! Many of us who live in Florida have the impulse to react exactly like Cupid. They are an inspiration and a delight.

  • Paul Donnelly: a seussified grindr date

    Poor Sam misunderstands the conventions of the Grindr encounter. It's enough to make anyone stop rhyming and has life-altering consequences for his "date."

    Poor Sam misunderstands the conventions of the Grindr encounter. It's enough to make anyone stop rhyming and has life-altering consequences for his "date."