Recommended by Steven G. Martin

The premise of "Barbarian" sounds like the set-up of a joke on a package of Bazooka Bubble Gum: "A White House employee walks into a veterinarian's clinic ..." But the punchline to Kimberly Fraher's satire isn't light and poppy -- it stings. Audiences get to see presidential leadership get grilled as well as how females are valued in the military. And the last line is pure acid. Love it.

You want to see a person's true colors? Put them in extreme situations. Joseph Bondi shows just how much people change during chaos, confusion, and danger. "Office Armageddon" is a terrific short comedy.

Asher Wyndham puts his characters into desperate circumstances, which is when their true selves shine through. Wyndham showcases Garth Girth's cocky facade, but I felt sympathy when Garth realizes he is losing everything. So much of "Garth Girth: A Gay4Pay Monologue" centers on commodity and worth, which is tied directly into Garth's self-esteem. This standalone monologue -- while it is very sexual -- should be produced for performance.

Too much is exactly right in a lot of ways: friendships, food, film. Sickles' beautiful short reminiscence is a celebration of overindulgence in friends, fried chicken, and flicks. The details and the nostalgia are rich. And I want more.

Neil Radtke's dramatic monologue about acting in a community theater also is a nod to those of us who realize we're older, things are changing, we are changing, and we're mostly okay with that. It's also a gentle reminder that things will continue on whether we're there or not.

I can only imagine how funny "Pilloried" is in performance -- the opening image, the physical comedy, the language. But what I especially love is that Jillian Blevins balances the humor with a bit of insight, of philosophy about our lives and the lives of others. I'd love to see "Pilloried" onstage.

Cass is a wonderful hero by not taking "no" as an answer. She searches, insists, presses, and prods for a response. And I love that her actions prove two things. First, any reference to the 1939 MGM movie "The Wizard of Oz" is a good reference and, second, that hyped-up leaders who give themselves near-unlimited powers are ultimately unsatisfying.

I love the balance of characters in this short comedy: Kate, who is enthusiastic, superficial, passive-aggressive, wild-eyed, and active. Holly, who is thoughtful, mellow, and a bit dull and a wet blanket. I really enjoyed a virtual reading of this Lisa Dellagiarino-Feriend comedy -- the humor comes from the characters and their friendship.

I love and hate "Allegedly" at the same time. I love that Andy Boyd masterfully shows how a monster tries to transform himself the victim. The character is despicable, but the slow and steady descent into spurious logic is mesmerizing and affecting -- a lot of an audience will believe that the monster is the victim. And I hate that, so Boyd's writing does what it should.

This monologue is an assault. I hoped it would end because the character is vile, the specificity and tone are disgusting. But it didn't end, it just kept coming and coming and coming. Vile character, horrific motives, unforgettable monologue.