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Philip Middleton Williams

Recommended by Philip Middleton Williams

  • (Un)Missed Connections by Mark-Eugene Garcia
    10 Oct. 2021
    “ This seemingly random collection of vignettes of gay men and their lives laces together in a well-crafted pattern, not unlike a complex work of string art or a fugue. Mark-Eugene Garcia's mix of touching relationships, casual hook-ups, desperate searches for true identity, and rich insight to the all-too-human psyche make this a joy to watch. No one can read this without thinking that they know someone in these stories -- and perhaps even see themselves. This is ensemble theatre and story-telling at its best, and there is not a wasted moment or caricature within it. Beautiful. ”
  • Number One Son by Lucy Wang
    9 Oct. 2021
    “ What struck me about this story was the continuo of connection that the characters have with each other despite the cultural and generational differences that Lucy Wang brings out in each of them. Plays about families rely on these kinds of conflicts, and so the audience may think they know how it will end. But that's not what happens: growth and acceptance is a two-way journey, and as we watch them come to terms with that reality, the connections, even the strained ones, make for a tale we all can understand. ”
  • The Jam by Renee´ Flemings
    9 Oct. 2021
    “ There is a rhythm to this play like a good jazz piece: driving but subtle at times, powerful at others, but relentless and moving. Effie's life story is moving and compelling, like her music, and as you listen to it, you're drawn in until you're moving along with it. And like a good solid jazz piece, there are surprises, solos, and discordant notes, but always within the whole piece. This would be amazing on stage. ”
  • That Good Night by Michael P. Adams
    8 Oct. 2021
    “ This play is about a moment when two people of very different views on faith and spirituality find a bond when they are seeking comfort in a time of stress. Michael P. Adams has given us two loving and caring people who meet by chance in a hospital chapel, each hoping that their loved one will recover. And in this time of worry and fear, they cling to hope and even humor, but most endearing of all is that each learns something about themselves and their inner self that is healing. A beautiful and hopeful story. ”
  • Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Sasha Karuc
    7 Oct. 2021
    “ Oh, there are so many puns and jokes I could make -- like, this play kills, or it knocked me dead -- but I won't go for the cheap laugh. I'll just say that Sasha Karuc has a great ear for character, dialogue and setting up a great premise that doesn't go the way you think it will, which is so good. And I did laugh a lot, especially imagining the fun actors will have doing this piece, which I would kill to see. Oops! ”
  • Wait - A monologue by Rene Zabel
    7 Oct. 2021
    “ Rene Zabel touches us with this kaleidoscope of memories as she watches her son grow up in four pages of images, echoes, and touching moments of joy and trepidation that I am sure every parent has felt at some time or another. ”
  • Coming Out To Daniel Levy by Tom David Barna
    5 Oct. 2021
    “ You don't have to be a fan of "Schitt's Creek" to appreciate the deadpan levity of this short play that pays humorous homage to the character that Daniel Levy played on the show. His treatment of Gary, the fashion-challenged screenwriter, sends up the perception of what's really important in making a film: it's not the story that matters after all. Tom David Barna's touch is both sharp and gentle, and the characters draw you in to the story. Enjoy the cappuccino, too. ”
  • Strings by Brian Cern
    4 Oct. 2021
    “ There is always a glimpse of truth in fairy tales, but through the passage of time as well as the various iterations and commercialization, they lose something. Perhaps it's the moral behind the parable or even the fascination of believing in magic and mystery, but the heart of the story remains. In this no-nonsense look behind the gauzy Technicolor animation of a favorite tale, we find the real story of family strife and sibling rivalry, wood-warts and all. It's crafty, meaningful, and liberating. ”
  • Elvis at Pemberley by John Patrick Bray
    4 Oct. 2021
    “ Is there a more fraught time in life than adolescence when conformity and peer pressure is the lifeblood of existence, even when our hormones and our very body is itself in full-scale rebellion? Poor Brian James is doing his best to fit in to everything: high school, his classmates' cliques, even his jeans. And then there's Erin Bonesteel, his confidante/counterpoint, the one who might get him out of Heartbreak Hotel. John Patrick Bray has such a masterful touch with these moments that you can't help falling in love. ”
  • Stay Awhile by Dana Hall
    4 Oct. 2021
    “ This piece hit close to home for me, and Dana Hall hits every nuance of dealing with grief in its many forms. The interaction between parent and child is deeply explored without being maudlin, and gives us a glimpse of the relationship over their lives in this moment. Perhaps it hit me hardest because I'm dealing with the same situation in my family, but Dana Hall's play is for all of us. ”

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