Recommended by Bruce Karp

This lovely and loving monologue is a tribute not only to a famous singing star, but also to resilience and being proud of who you are, no matter how long it may take to get there. I applaud Paul Smith's journey and the wonderful way he described his feelings, then and now.

Like "Noises Off" but without the slamming doors, Mr. Busser has created a wacky and very entertaining story of a play-gone-wrong (or going wrong), and he has plotted out the confusion in a spectacular way, so that it is funny rather than confusing, as well it should be. This should be great fun for actors to perform and for audiences to see. I also see the play as a tribute to writers, who may dislike rewrites, but know we have to do them. We have to keep better track of the drafts than does Stuart, the playwright in the play.

What an excellent example of leading the audience on and then throwing in wonderful twists. Crisp writing, fun characters fully developed (not always seen in a short play) and the setting on the Staten Island Ferry was inspired. Mr. Kaminski has a real talent for writing mysterious situations. It seems this play has already made its mark and deservedly so.

I'm in constant awe of Marj's ability to quickly bring characters to life in her short plays. In this one, the wordplay between mother and daughter in a time of grieving is true to form, mixing tinges of sadness, comic relief and hope (and plans) for a happier future for both mother and daughter. You feel as if you know the characters and you want to hug them at the end and tell them everything's going to be all right.

This play is quite a delight and provides lessons to us all about camaraderie, acceptance and family. The characters could be dogs or humans and learn the proper lesson that inclusion is better. I really enjoyed Ms. Feeny-Williams' writing and the comic buildup leading to a satisfying ending.

Writer Josephs takes us on a big emotional ride where a rambling Louis Untermeyer defends his many marriages (and life, in general) on a nationally televised game show. It's a chilling thought to imagine this type of thing actually happening, but it is wonderfully theatrical. Terrific imagery and a great role for the actor playing Louis. I also liked the product references throughout the show, presented matter-of-factly, as if the game was being played in its usual way. It confirms that Louis was a complicated person. Well done!

This is a lovely, emotion-filled play about many things - life, death, guilt, caviar and margaritas - among others. Cleverly constructed and executed, we easily fall for Fanny and Peter in their present and past incarnations. Their emotions and stories feel real, with wry humor infiltrating throughout. Very enjoyable and moving.

I also must add that my song of choice, should there be a memorial after I go, is the same as the song that ends this heartfelt play.

A strong play with a painful but necessary conversation between father and son. There's an unexpected twist at the end that provides hope for reconciliation. Very well-written and believable. Well done!

Fireworks is a lovely, quick moving play with great potential for spectacular visual effects. It carries a somewhat mysterious story that we can relate to in this difficult time. It reminds us, too, about taking some responsibility for our own life. I like the conclusion where the seemingly uncaring and hard-hearted lead character softens just a bit. Crisp dialogue all the way through. Very nice work!

I was looking at random for an interesting play and found one in "When We Were Young," by a fellow playwright with the same last name, but no relation.

What I found was a charming two-hander, crisply written, about an older couple, separated by implied indifference to each other when younger, who get together later in life, and get to rehash the wounds of youth, leading up to a reconciliation that is well-earned. The snappy dialogue keeps the action moving, leading to a climactic spilling of emotions. I recommend you read this play, which has great roles for older actors!