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Nick Malakhow

Recommended by Nick Malakhow

  • Light Switch by Dave Osmundsen
    14 Dec. 2019
    “ This tender-hearted, intimate story is fantastic. In examining neurodiversity within an already marginalized community, Osmundsen sheds light on the ways in which the gay male community doesn't make space for intersectional queerness. In Henry, he has created a sympathetic and well-rendered protagonist. I was also impressed by the arcs of Roggie, Marian, and Joseph. They each have their own journeys that help to further illuminate Henry's struggles, strengths, and how he helps those around him grow and evolve. I enjoyed the theatrical play with time, as well as the humor throughout. The ending is hopeful and heartening. ”
  • but you're okay by Stephanie Swirsky
    14 Dec. 2019
    “ This spot on rendering of college aged young people navigating their first few years away from home provides a powerful exploration of acquaintance sexual assault and the ways victims are gaslighted by their perpetrators and others around them. The irregular, natural sounding dialogue perfectly captures several distinct voices. The characters have well developed senses of humor as well which, in some scenes provides some great laughs, and in other scenes some of the deepest and most heartbreaking cuts. This piece should be regularly explored on college campuses. ”
  • Stupid, Fat, Ugly by Dave Osmundsen
    13 Dec. 2019
    “ I appreciated how this play shifts back and forth in time, making clear the impacts that past events have on the characters in the present. Mandy's guilt-driven quest for answers and forgiveness gives us a window into two other flawed characters who neglected or abused her brother as well. Along the way, Osmundsen offers insights into the mechanisms behind self-hatred, negative self-image in the gay community, and alienation in contemporary urban life. ”
  • The Talk by Janice Liddell
    12 Dec. 2019
    “ This was a thoroughly engrossing piece about intergenerational relationships, inherited trauma, and activism. Liddell introduces us to a dynamic family full of strong personalities and tensions both hidden and overt. She impressively renders a portrait of the pendulum swing between generations on all sorts of issues and illustrates the ever-complex relationship between one's racial identity and one's personal boundaries, dreams, and limits (both external and self-imposed). I'd love to see this play on its feet in production! ”
  • Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea by Julia Izumi
    12 Dec. 2019
    “ What a fantastic, whimsical, playful, and poignant theatrical fairy tale. Izumi plays with and subverts our expectations numerous times throughout the story, all along the way making some excellent points about the nature of love and relationships. The theatrical world described onstage is so unique and heightened, and it was a joy to try and visualize how it might come to life in my mind. This big-hearted and beautiful story also has an excellent sense of humor and moves at a fast, exciting clip. Please produce this play! ”
  • MISFIT, AMERICA by Nelson Diaz-Marcano
    11 Dec. 2019
    “ This is a gorgeously rendered, fantastical story that takes genres and tropes dominated by white voices--coming of age, the Western, revenge--and queers and diversifies them. Tamít is a compelling protagonist, but their story is but one fascinating element of this multi-layered work. Diaz-Marcano creates an eclectic yet cohesive theatrical world populated by humans with potent motivations both hidden and public. Despite the epic scope of the world, Diaz-Marcano wisely centers these characters' journeys above all. The dialogue vacillates between the poetic, the spare, the profane, and the (sometimes darkly) humorous. I'd love to see this realized onstage! ”
  • Queen of Sad Mischance by John Minigan
    11 Dec. 2019
    “ This is a richly layered and nuanced piece that is both an excellent and full character study of three complicated people, while also being an impeccably structured play! "Queen of Sad Mischance" is a beautiful example of theatrical showing vs. telling, where all of the dialogue both serves to move the plot forward while also rendering and fully fleshing out its characters. Kym is a propulsive driver to the play, Beverly a sympathetic foil who is shown warts and all, and Roy a delightfully complicating wild card. Everyone so clearly has urgent needs related to themselves and one another. ”
  • Pangea (Part Two of The Second World Trilogy) by Scott Sickles
    9 Dec. 2019
    “ In "Pangea," Scott Sickles builds on the dynamic and terrifying hypothetical future he so deftly established in "Marianas Trench." Whereas "Marianas Trench" was a lyrical and poetic coming of age story, this is a fascinating piece of "sci-fi naturalism" (if there is such a thing) with a poignant, funny, and beautiful romance at the center of it. Sickles deepens Lincoln (Teddy) and Andy (Anzor) as characters while successfully propelling his overarching narrative and world-building forward to great effect. He articulates prescient (frighteningly so) themes about sustainability, identity, and the destructive nature of humanity. I look forward to part three! ”
  • The Fierce Urgency Of Now by Doug DeVita
    8 Dec. 2019
    “ DeVita has assembled a compelling and distinct collection of colorful characters. While Kyle's journey is at the center of the piece, DeVita ensures that the entire supporting cast receives satisfying story arcs themselves. The advertising world also comes alive in these briskly moving scenes in a skillful example of theatrical "showing vs. telling." The fast-moving plot kept me engaged enough to read it through in one sitting, and I loved the way that the scene transitions toyed with the flexible boundary between the cinematic and the theatrical. Hope to see a production of this some day soon! ”
  • mother's son by Dominic Finocchiaro
    7 Dec. 2019
    “ This is an exquisite play about the complexities of grieving a loved one. Marie is a compelling protagonist and propels the play forward with kinetic energy. She is flanked by equally nuanced and well-drawn supporting characters, including a meaty and surprising cameo role in Charlene close to the end. The dialogue is an uncanny combination of spare, naturalistic, and profound. In avoiding sentimentality, Finocchiaro ultimately creates a potent play that is an emotional bomb! The well-paced scenes move at a steady clip, always engaging and, at turns, funny and heartbreaking. I hope this atmospheric piece is produced frequently! ”

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