Recommended by Robert Weibezahl

The methods of war change, but what soldiers experience on the ground, and carry with them for the rest of their lives, is timeless. Ranum delves deeply into those issues in this emotionally raw short play, especially in the brutally affecting monologues where Charlie and Mike open up about the horrors they witnessed and cannot leave behind. A valuable addition to the literature of war, and one that could be expanded to great effect. Powerful stuff.

Gun violence. Autism. Parenting. Teen angst. Karen Saari cooks up so much in this riveting short play and expertly brings it all together in a stunning and satisfying meal. While Lloyd may be the kind of man we wish we could avoid, we have all had to deal with the Lloyds of the world. Mae teaches him a thing or two about compassion and points him, we hope, down the road to redemption. These very real characters and their very real situation stay with us long after the last moments of the play.

John Adams is a brilliant comic writer, and SOME SPECTER had the audience laughing with riproarious abandon at the reading I saw at the 2022 Inge Festival. But Adams’s greater gift may lie in his rare talent for blending the comic with the heartfelt. This short piece, though ostensibly parody, is so honest in its portrayal of our human need for connection that the comedy almost becomes secondary. SOME SPECTER should be read, produced, and celebrated.

This little gem of a play reveals one of the unspoken secrets of marriage! One perfectly portrayed moment that tells us everything we need to know. You’ll either laugh or cry, depending on where you fall on the sleep spectrum. Brava!

When characters try to take control of the narrative, what’s a writer to do? Kill (your darlings) or be killed. A clever slice of meta-playwriting that any writer will appreciate.

A lovely November romance that suggests love at first sight is still possible, even if you now require bifocals. A sassy story that treats its two aging characters with warmth and dignity. Filled with optimism, humor, and quiet knowingness. I saw the sharp production done as part of Barrington Stage Company’s 10x10 New Play Festival and it certainly was one of the highlights of the evening.

So sweet and endearing with the perfect unexpected twist. Mr. Williams, you may have missed a lucrative career opportunity: Paging Madison Avenue!

The things we wonder but don’t talk about. The sexuality of the severely disabled. Sibling intimacy. Hodges treads into these taboo realms in a truly original short play that makes us laugh as it triggers much to think about and, yes, talk about. Brave writers take us outside our comfort zone. Good writers don’t preach while doing so. In “Siblings,” Hodges proves himself one such brave and good writer.

Williams’s emotionally honest plays often have many layers to peel away, and “Going for a Walk with Sam” is no exception. While he literally and whimsically portrays the spirit of a departed dog, Williams delves deeper, exploring the spiritual connection between humans and their beloved pets, as well as how that connection can become integral to human pairings as well. Staging this warm-hearted play would be a delightful challenge for director and actors alike and I hope someday to see it performed.

Williams’s quick one-minute play about a couple loaded for bear underscores with delicious humor and a touch of irony how sometimes taking ourselves too seriously can lead to playing the fool.