Recommended by Donald E. Baker

On his way to the afterlife, Sonny is diverted to the ultimate nightmare of a bureaucratic intake center. He can't move on until he figures out why he is there, and the officials in charge won't tell him. His protestations that he was always a good Christian and kept the Ten Commandments carry no weight. Especially ineffective is his insistence that he has never told a lie. Which, it turns out, may only be true in the most literal sense. This play will stay in the minds of audiences long after they see the production it so richly deserves.

What a wonderfully conceived satiric alternate version of Genesis, where Adam and his minions grow apples and have their own male deity, and Eve and hers grow oranges and have their own female deity, and, separated by a infinitely high wall, each gender exists in their own perfectly tailored Eden. Paradise indeed. But as in the original, a dark force arrives to throw a monkey wrench, or in this case, a pear, into the works. Very nicely realized and a real pleasure to read.

What do you do when you fall into the hands of a mad scientist and you're firmly bound to his operating table? Any gambit you can think of. Will our traveler talk his way to his freedom, or is he fated to have his brain dissected, er, bisected? You must wait to the end to find out. A hilarious send-up of a familiar horror-movie situation that asks the eternal question, do even mad scientists have ethics? It'd be equally enjoyable for audience and actors alike.

Yes, Christmas is a religious holiday. But of course it is also an annual revenue bonanza for the many businesses that rely on ad agencies to provide jolly or heartwarming but in no way offensive messages encouraging Americans to open their pocketbooks and swipe their credit cards. One suspects the cynical attitude lampooned by this very funny little play is more pervasive than people imagine.

When I want a laugh, I look for a play by John Busser. This one delivers, in its setup (Death has a domestic life with a wife who, since opposites attract, can bring the dead to back to life), in its visuals (at breakfast, Death wears a bathrobe over the customary black hooded shroud), in its Busserian wordplay, of course, and in its action, especially the head-banging suffering of the overly perky travel agent when she finds herself in the middle of Mr. & Mrs. Death's bickering over their vacation destination. It's hilarious. Audiences will die laughing.

When gay Sidney Franklin is beaten up by his father, he dreams he is receiving comfort from early gay film star Billy Haines. Haines left the movies (for a career as interior designer to the stars) when he refused to play the "marry a woman and stay in the closet" game. He encourages Sidney to follow his heart, which will involve a move to Mexico where he will become the first American matador and become known for his distinctive pink costuming. A great introduction to two men who would each deserve full-length plays of their own. Nicely done!

The fuck buddy relationship is supposed to be all sex and no complications. But when the other guy seems to delight in manipulating your misplaced hopes and expectations, the complications overshadow the sex. Or do they enhance the experience? Another memorable piece from the master of monologues.

Apparently these guys got no shame, doin' what they like to do. But this zany concoction of song lyrics and noir does something to me, something that really mystifies me. I didn't know whether to admire the voodoo they do so well or just shake my head in wonder at the effrontery of the whole enterprise. But still, I thought, 'swonderful, 'smarvelous. I could have laughed all night.

A sneeze can wreak havoc but it can also work magic, as it does in this play. Norkin has worked in enough delightful wordplay, physical humor, and sight gags involving inappropriate costuming to keep an audience in stitches from start to finish. An absolutely delightful backstage comedy.

Don't let the fantasy label mislead you. There are no dragons or wizards here. Just a lovely story about a woman who has lost her mother, a story that proves anything is possible on a Midsummer's night. Very nicely done!