Recommended by Paul Donnelly

This is a very specific story about one young man with autism and his complex relationship with his advocate mother. It is also a universal story of a parent struggling to let go of control and a young adult's struggle for independence. It is exhilarating to see Zachary find and express his own voice after years of well-meaning suppression.

A thoughtful, almost meditative study of the connection between two brothers. A connection that, while authentic and sustaining, leaves each with mysteries intact. There is also masterful use of silent communication and of the natural world ... a tree and the stars and the sky are almost additional characters. A most original and engaging work.

Poor Jesus, it would take a true miracle worker to satisfy the diverse needs of his self-absorbed friends. This nifty comedy skewers food faddism and bad, bad guests while also presenting a portrait of a hapless host. And it re-affirms one of my core beliefs, pizza is the answer to everything.

A brisk and funny and ultimately chilling comedy about class-based prejudice and suburban bigotry. The metaphor that emerges perfectly captures the way in which both couples are trapped by the roles they have chosen and the roles that were thrust upon them.

A withering depiction of what front line workers had to endure at the height of the Covid epidemic. The characters are clearly drawn and their conflict clearly delineated. It is a tribute to this playwright's craft that I was emotionally drained by the end of the piece.

What a fun and funny look at a most unusual first date. The twist ending is suitably surprising and in the final beat quite charming.

What a rich and multilayered exploration of the effects of sexual abuse on two boys and on the men they become. From the earliest beats these two boys are completely engaging and the effects of the racism they suffer are manifest. As more revelations ensue their complex relationship becomes even more gripping and their tentative steps toward healing even more uplifting. This is a play of great skill and heart. It deserves to be seen widely.

This journalistic fantasy has an economical and engaging set-up and a surprising comic pay-off ... who could ask for anything more?

What a hoot. "Straight out of Saturday morning cartoons," indeed. The lunacy moves at a breakneck pace made all the more hysterical as all the characters are embodied by two harried actors. The play is filled with comic reveals and reversals, but the final reveal takes this piece very successfully into the realm of political satire, darkening and enriching its humor. And I will never forget that alligators can move at up to 20 miles per hour.

Belle gives us the story behind the story. Her take is hysterical, even when the underlying themes are more serious and pointed. It's delightful to see Belle find her true happily ever after.