Recommended by Jonathan O'Neill

  • This Play Has an Iguana for a Protagonist
    3 Jul. 2019
    So you’ve already seen the title, and you’re probably already interested. But this script goes even beyond that novelty — Dooley burrows into the whimsy of her premise to find the genuine emotion within, and succeeds. Your heart will be warmed as a concerned iguana bursts through a wall in a Gundam mech because it doesn’t understand what menstruation is. What a great combination of words, and a great feeling they bring.
  • Duck/Rabbit
    21 Jun. 2019
    Like the optical illusion it's based on, DUCK/RABBIT presents a reality that strains belief, interpretation, and ultimately, sanity. Its parallel to our own is moving and clear. The characters and dialogue are genuinely funny here, but the best part is the thrill of novelty and then recognition as Shirley's kitchen is absorbed by a zany, violent cartoon world. The twisting and turning metaphors are awesome, as is the 21st-century absurdist tone. It's all dizzying and relatable.
  • A Well-Governed Shark
    12 Jun. 2019
    A jolly satire of sentimental poetry. Weagly executes a lush conceit with a structure of dialogue that just heightens the comedy -- it's hilarious to read the sharks' shifting responses to the poem as they hear it for the first time. Would recommend to any amateur biologists, Monty Python fans, or former literature students who'd like to see Herman Melville's verse receive a lashing.
  • I, CARPENTER
    10 Jun. 2019
    I, CARPENTER is a terrifying social parable from the Great Recession era. The master carpenter’s lament for his disappearing life echoes even today. My high school English class saw this staged in 2011, and years later, just seeing the title — and thinking of this play’s tense dialogue, evocative atmosphere, and shattering climax — makes my heart stammer. How many other scripts have that kind of emotional longevity? This one is something special.
  • ALEXANDRIA
    10 Jun. 2019
    A clever, frightening drama about the distinctions we make between the personal and the ideological. Gatton's characters are complex and recognizable. The torment they experience -- at the hands of others and themselves -- is palpable. As superhuman forces aggravate the rifts in their relationships and push them past the bounds of polite society, ALEXANDRIA offers a uniquely 21st-century perspective on diverse friendships in divisive times. An intense and rewarding Pride Month read.
  • My Mariners – A Murder Mystery Drama with Traditional American Music
    10 Jun. 2019
    A tense historical thriller. DiMarco and Harper's mystery brings a sleepy corner of Staten Island to life - and fills it with electrifying corruption and paranoia. The suspects here present rich roles for 7 fortunate actors. As their secrets come to light, we see them to be as complex as the history of Snug Harbor itself.
  • Ms. Desjardins
    9 Jun. 2019
    The slowly-revealed similarities between a child of immigrants and his seemingly insensitive teacher are exciting in this period drama about names, culture, and individuality. The tension between Deng and Ms. Desjardins is compelling from the first scene. As their conflict develops into understanding, Yeung presents the early days of a still-present struggle many have with names and respect.
  • Round the Mountain
    7 Jun. 2019
    A timely, outrageous comedy about the limits of regret, shame, and polite society. ROUND THE MOUNTAIN follows four deliciously-satirized characters as they discover that bodies die quick, but habits die slow. As the doomsday clock runs out, they struggle to melt down, party, drink, trip, loot, confess, cheat, and murder. Houg illustrates each stage of their devolution with wit and relish. You'll laugh, out loud.
  • STANDING ROOM ONLY
    7 Jun. 2019
    Ehrlich conjures lovely comedy from an unlikely friendship in this charming platonic rom-com. It's hard not to smile as the relationship between the cynic and the romantic develops. I finished wanting more!
  • In The Whole History of Hi-Q
    19 May. 2019
    A delightful take-down of That Guy -- you know, the smug one who sat behind you in History class and answered every question incorrectly. Gatton presents the adolescent know-it-all and his suffering classmates with clarity, authenticity, and good humor. His satire is spot-on.

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