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Steven G. Martin

Recommended by Steven G. Martin

  • SEEING EYE by Nick Malakhow
    22 Aug. 2018
    “ Malakhow has created fully dimensional characters who cannot see the good in themselves, even though it's apparent to everyone else, including the audience. His writing is honest and humane, not forcing Jason, Robbie and Jordan into fully heroic, self-confident versions of themselves. They fall and stand up for themselves, make progress and make poor decisions. Malakhow allows them to be human, even as the audience yearns for them to understand their goodness. ”
  • Sharpies by David Narter
    20 Aug. 2018
    “ David Narter's dark comedy Sharpies has such a razor-keen edge, it slices the targets in its path: self-centered helicopter parents, the pressures put on very young children to stand out, and the system that encourages and rewards narcissistic sociopaths. And also, it's hilarious. Bravo to Narter for trusting the audience's intelligence and letting their imagination make the grotesque even more vivid. ”
  • Connie Williams, Pez Slayer by Lee R. Lawing
    19 Aug. 2018
    “ Lawing's Connie Williams, Pez Slayer is a wild and weird play, filled with a mash-up of details that are perfectly in place within a fever dream. It's sexy and violent, filled with pop and political culture references, and its pacing rivals a roller coaster ride -- building slowly but after pausing at the top of the first hill, it runs rapidly through curves and loop-the-loops. ”
  • Girl Dolls by Emily Hageman
    6 Aug. 2018
    “ Hageman delivers a gut punch with her short play "Girl Dolls." She masterfully draws in the audience, leading them to expect an arch satire about how tech undermines face-to-face, human interaction. Then comes the shift, and Hageman briskly attacks the objectification of women, the cruelty of men, the ease of destroying personal lives. She raises questions that will last long after the performance ends. ”
  • When You Are a Little Bit Older by Matthew Weaver
    5 Aug. 2018
    “ Because of Matthew Weaver's warmth and empathy for all 3 characters, "When You Are a Little Bit Older" confidently moves beyond what could have been a cliched "sibling versus sibling" confrontation. Instead, it plays like a memory, perhaps the first in a series about any of these characters and how they grew up. ”
  • MISSION CREEP by Bee Scott
    1 Aug. 2018
    “ How far would you go to pass as someone you're not? What would you hide? What would you force yourself to do? Where would you draw the line? Bee Scott's one-act play Mission Creep dramatizes how the survival instinct leads Tess and Liam to disavow parts of their lives. Clearly drawn, life-or-death conflict. Nice pacing to reveal the horrifying given circumstances. No answers, just questions ... which I love. ”
  • The Sandbox by Azure D Osborne-Lee
    1 Aug. 2018
    “ Azure Osborne-Lee's 10-minute play The Sandbox dramatizes so many true moments in such a short time, from sibling relationships and rivalries to the sweet longings of first love to the surprising moments of connection between generations. Absolutely crystal clear with its characters through dialogue and action, Osborne-Lee has crafted a wonderful play that would be a warm, welcome addition to any festival. ”
  • More Than the Animals by Gina Femia
    30 Jul. 2018
    “ Gina Femia has created an amazing character in school student Imogene. She blasts her rage and anger at full volume when speaking to God, but then opens up briefly to show her sadness and disillusionment. That rage turned to sadness finally expresses itself in pride, in pushing away shame that others try to inflict upon her. There's such truth in Femia's short play. ”
  • The Heinrich Maneuver (a ten minute play) by Mark Harvey Levine
    30 Jul. 2018
    “ Recommended for all ten-minute festival opportunities. In "The Heinrich Maneuver," Mark Harvey Levine has created a world that follow its own logic and rules, and then gleefully builds upon them as ridiculously funny revelations are met by even more ridiculously funny revelations. Action, characterization, dialogue ... all are pitch perfect in this fast-paced, zany romp. Very well done. ”
  • About the Kid by Kevin King
    28 Jul. 2018
    “ Recommended for any 10-minute play festival, including those featuring LGBTQ themes. King comically and seriously shows how the newness of a situation can lead to awkward discomfort, even among good people. King also smartly shows how clarity helps them focus on what matters: the kid. ”

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