Recommended by Robert Weibezahl

Breaking up has always been hard to do, but ending a friendship in the age of quarantine can be particularly tricky. Who would believe you have other plans? Mabey’s hilarious play is filled with laugh-out-loud humor and unexpected turns of events and the two couples can be cast with any gender mix, which provides for endless variations on a theme. Delightful.

In a few beautifully delineated, delicate strokes, Ross Tedford Kendall creates a whole history for the two sisters in FERAL. These young women, desperate to spread their wings, but still emotionally and financially bound to their childhood home, convey as much through their inaction as their action. The subtle metaphors of the feral cat and the coyote, independent and elusive, perfectly capture the essence of their dilemma: the conflicting desires to circle the wagons, yet also to be set free. An accomplished, resonating piece.

What a quirky, fun, and wholly original take on the demands of quarantine! I would expect nothing less from Dickens, who has a singular playwriting vision that always takes the unexpected turn. This charming play about missed connections, both literal and figurative, leaves you hoping things are not over and out for Shelley and Miles.

The flip side of the quarantine—what if being forced to stay away were not so bad? Martin says it all with all that is NOT said.

Art isn’t easy, Sondheim wrote. But it certainly is subjective. Martin’s intentionally over-the-top comedy is a scathing satire that pits one pretentious wannabe critic against another in a heated battle royale over a third grade art show. In our opinionated, divisive times, this clever short play holds a mirror up, showing us all how ridiculous we can be.

This short comic play is a clever and witty dialogue about both the “meaning” of art and the absurdity of its commercialization. Levine is especially adept at capturing the pretentious ego-stroking banter of artist and art dealer as they dance around their own pompous ignorance. PERSPECTIVE will keep you nodding and laughing right up to the final zinger!

What makes this incredibly clever play so special is not only the brilliant comic setup, but ultimately an ending filled with self-determination and possibilities. This little gem of a play goes beyond entertainment to truly inspire.

So tender, so deceptively simple, this emotionally enveloping play captures young love at its most vulnerable. What the heart truly wants vs. what the outside world ordains: in the end, nature cannot be denied. Lovely.

There is so much to love about this beautiful play, which in a mere ten minutes touches on so many root issues: race, masculinity, sexual identity, fatherhood, and, most especially, the particular awkwardness men display in their (often thwarted) yearning for friendship. And it does all this through heartfelt humor and with unabashed humanity. Bravo!

A gentle, affecting play about the possibilities for withstanding grief in unexpected ways. As always, O'Neill-Butler cuts to the heart of the matter with very real characters who embody and express what we all feel.