Recommended by Bruce Karp

  • Bruce Karp: Waiting On Mom, Who Already Left

    I enjoyed reading John Busser's sweet and humorous story about a funeral! There, I said it. His characters are marvelously drawn, believable and I could identify with them, from a similar family experience. The segment about Aunt Peg is hilarious (I won't give it away), and the ending ties things up in a nice bow. Busser is really quite good at creating fully rounded short stories. Hope this gets produced.

    I enjoyed reading John Busser's sweet and humorous story about a funeral! There, I said it. His characters are marvelously drawn, believable and I could identify with them, from a similar family experience. The segment about Aunt Peg is hilarious (I won't give it away), and the ending ties things up in a nice bow. Busser is really quite good at creating fully rounded short stories. Hope this gets produced.

  • Bruce Karp: The Golden Rule

    This is a tautly written, tension-filled play that has a satisfying ending which I will not spoil here. Mr. Taube's buildup had me wanting to read more. Unfortunately, I think the differences between the two characters have become all too clear to us. It's a warning to all of us. I highly recommend reading this play and hope it gets produced.

    This is a tautly written, tension-filled play that has a satisfying ending which I will not spoil here. Mr. Taube's buildup had me wanting to read more. Unfortunately, I think the differences between the two characters have become all too clear to us. It's a warning to all of us. I highly recommend reading this play and hope it gets produced.

  • Bruce Karp: The Last Stalker (Ten Minute)

    This is a play that takes us all back to the horrible time when young, gay men succumbed to what was initially a "mystery disease." Well, we know the heartache that followed and it can be felt reading this well-written and heartfelt play. Even though AIDS can now be treated as a chronic disease, it is still good for people who were too young or not born at the time, to understand what it felt like to contract the virus before there was a chance to survive.

    This is a play that takes us all back to the horrible time when young, gay men succumbed to what was initially a "mystery disease." Well, we know the heartache that followed and it can be felt reading this well-written and heartfelt play. Even though AIDS can now be treated as a chronic disease, it is still good for people who were too young or not born at the time, to understand what it felt like to contract the virus before there was a chance to survive.

  • Bruce Karp: No Rest for a Soul

    I enjoyed this play's premise, though unfortunately, the lecture given to the late rock star needed to be heard by him much sooner, i.e., when he was alive. The idea that all your life mistakes are "kept on file" in the afterlife is a bit disconcerting, but it did make for an entertaining situation, whereby a suicide victim has some hope that reincarnation could make him a better person. I'll leave it to you to read the play to find out how that turns out. Well done and should be produced.

    I enjoyed this play's premise, though unfortunately, the lecture given to the late rock star needed to be heard by him much sooner, i.e., when he was alive. The idea that all your life mistakes are "kept on file" in the afterlife is a bit disconcerting, but it did make for an entertaining situation, whereby a suicide victim has some hope that reincarnation could make him a better person. I'll leave it to you to read the play to find out how that turns out. Well done and should be produced.

  • Bruce Karp: On Queue

    I thought this to be a good play in the age of writing about nothingness, which always gives us readers and theatergoers a chance to discuss what it's really about...somethingness, if you will. (I hope that makes sense.) Anyway, whether it's about life, death or just impatience about cutting in line or people showing up on time, Mr. Norkin has handled the dialogue in a clever way and without a doubt keeps us interested and willing to debate the play's meaning. Recommended!

    I thought this to be a good play in the age of writing about nothingness, which always gives us readers and theatergoers a chance to discuss what it's really about...somethingness, if you will. (I hope that makes sense.) Anyway, whether it's about life, death or just impatience about cutting in line or people showing up on time, Mr. Norkin has handled the dialogue in a clever way and without a doubt keeps us interested and willing to debate the play's meaning. Recommended!

  • Bruce Karp: A Toast (from the THE WRINKLE RANCH AND OTHER PLAYS ABOUT GROWING OLD collection)

    I enjoyed the way this story unfolded with all the doubts and suspicions spouted by a son as he watches his father re-marry a short time after his mother's passing - and he has to make a toast at the wedding, to boot. A very interesting concept. And, though there is likely no right or wrong in the father's actions, Ms. Cole mines the son's reasons why this new marriage should not take place. In the end, the conflict is still there, evidenced by the toast itself. Well worth producing!

    I enjoyed the way this story unfolded with all the doubts and suspicions spouted by a son as he watches his father re-marry a short time after his mother's passing - and he has to make a toast at the wedding, to boot. A very interesting concept. And, though there is likely no right or wrong in the father's actions, Ms. Cole mines the son's reasons why this new marriage should not take place. In the end, the conflict is still there, evidenced by the toast itself. Well worth producing!

  • Bruce Karp: Weather it Out

    This is a clever take on entitlement, and will resonate with anyone who hoped for a quiet day at the beach or the park, or even at home, and suddenly...intrusions! How dare they?!?

    With rising tensions, childish interactions and a lovely twist at the end that turns out to be the final arbiter, Ms. Feeny-Williams has created a fierce and funny take on how those feelings of entitlement, when challenged, can take all the fun out of life. Worth reading and would be fun for the actors to perform.

    This is a clever take on entitlement, and will resonate with anyone who hoped for a quiet day at the beach or the park, or even at home, and suddenly...intrusions! How dare they?!?

    With rising tensions, childish interactions and a lovely twist at the end that turns out to be the final arbiter, Ms. Feeny-Williams has created a fierce and funny take on how those feelings of entitlement, when challenged, can take all the fun out of life. Worth reading and would be fun for the actors to perform.

  • Bruce Karp: BIRTHRIGHTS...and WRONGS (a 10 minute play)

    Ms. O'Neill-Butler, who always writes relatable characters and dialogue, has brought two strangers together about to embark on parenthood and grand-parenthood, having had to overcome mistakes, tragedies and fear. And they have and will, all in the name of family. This is a charming and in the end, moving piece about being supportive, even to people you don't know. Sometimes, you can have the most intimate and emotional moments with people you hardly know.

    Ms. O'Neill-Butler, who always writes relatable characters and dialogue, has brought two strangers together about to embark on parenthood and grand-parenthood, having had to overcome mistakes, tragedies and fear. And they have and will, all in the name of family. This is a charming and in the end, moving piece about being supportive, even to people you don't know. Sometimes, you can have the most intimate and emotional moments with people you hardly know.

  • Bruce Karp: THE OTHER MAN'S GRASS IS MONDEGREEN-ER, a 10-minute absurdist comedy

    Arianna's creativity is constantly surprising and she reaches a new high in creating this play about misheard lyrics. The research and craft involved in creating this absurd and very funny play is enormous and once again, she has come up a winner. You may not catch all of the lyrics, depending on your age and musical experience, but you'll have fun trying to figure them out.

    Arianna's creativity is constantly surprising and she reaches a new high in creating this play about misheard lyrics. The research and craft involved in creating this absurd and very funny play is enormous and once again, she has come up a winner. You may not catch all of the lyrics, depending on your age and musical experience, but you'll have fun trying to figure them out.

  • Bruce Karp: Can You Hear Me Now?

    Mr. Norkin has created a very funny rift on modern technology by taking us back to communication's early days - Bell, Watson and some string. We've come a long way and I hope you'll laugh as much as I did reading this play, which manages to show in a subtle and humorous way, how much a simple idea has taken over our lives. Well done!

    Mr. Norkin has created a very funny rift on modern technology by taking us back to communication's early days - Bell, Watson and some string. We've come a long way and I hope you'll laugh as much as I did reading this play, which manages to show in a subtle and humorous way, how much a simple idea has taken over our lives. Well done!