Recommended by Philip Middleton Williams

  • Lovers and Survivors
    2 Oct. 2023
    Years may pass, age takes its toll, as does gravity, but love and the people in love with each other can be timeless; frozen in amber with the soft glow of life still about them. Aaron Leventman's short play gives us a lifetime to think about what really matters and is meaningful: the little things we never forget. And in those moments, we see that surviving is more than just staying alive. A beautiful bouquet to these lovers.
  • Did you do the thing yet, Joe?
    2 Oct. 2023
    It's as if Samuel Beckett took his absurdist track -- focusing on menial tasks -- and gave it a suburban nightmare once-over. Clever, cute, maddening, and yet refreshing: kind of like drinking the Theory of Relativity for breakfast. Or pie. Well, Joe?
  • Target after lunch, and other judgments on the state of man (A monologue for men)
    26 Sep. 2023
    No one knows their child better than a parent, and no parent should have to tolerate the judgments of others on how they care for their child, especially from the foolish and those who presume to know better. This is not a crie de coeur, but a powerful standing statement of love and willing sacrifice that only a parent can understand. Yes, this is a case of special needs, but it applies to anyone who has a heart and a mind and a child.
  • Hearing, Seeing, Knowing (A monologue for women)
    21 Sep. 2023
    The sheer will and determination in this piece takes it beyond the stage. This is no whining whimper, but a powerful stand for this woman, unafraid to own up to the emotions she feels without backing down or apologizing. The honesty and gripping determination make this a universal statement of fact and liberation. I would love to see this on stage and can only hope that it becomes a mantra beyond the footlights.
  • Crossing an Ocean (MONOLOGUE)
    19 Sep. 2023
    A poignant recollection of moments where falling in love seems as natural as breathing. This young man is clearly head-over-heels, but also clear-eyed to know that this is a moment only; that life will resume, that hearts will be strained, tested, and time will tell. Still, you don't want him to lose that thrill, and this could easily last a lifetime.
  • THE EQUIVALENT OF SENSATION, full-length play for 5 Women
    19 Sep. 2023
    I had the privilege of hearing this play as it was being developed, and I am so happy to see how Arianna Rose has brought these characters to life, and then to see it performed at Sol Theatre in Boca Raton, FL. This is a tour-de-force of art, insight, and understanding about two fascinating women -- the Cone sisters -- and their collection that brings two towering figures of 20th century literature -- Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas -- into our minds guided by the presence of a figure from Matisse. Enthralling and truthful.
  • There Were No Homoerotic Undertones, But At Least There Was Cheese
    13 Sep. 2023
    We all need friends like these, willing to bite the... cheese and do their best to look out for each other. Steve Martin's touch is gentle but gets to the heart of the matter of understanding the tacit love each of these guys feel for each other. A wonderful moment. Wait... no crackers?
  • A Horse Called Home
    12 Sep. 2023
    Some of the most complex and true theatre takes place in the imaginations and actions of children. It proves that our ability to create full-dimensional characters, action, conflict, and resolution is an instinct; it only becomes complicated -- and distorted -- when we grown-ups try too hard to make sense of make-believe. In this short and achingly true piece observing Slim, "Chancey," and Hairline Q. Brush, we see into just how this improvised game lives up to the core of theatre: providing the escape that allows these young actors to face reality with courage and resolve.
  • Little Black Dress
    1 Sep. 2023
    There are moments in a relationship when people reveal elements of themselves that are tells, the signs that only they share, that don't need to be spoken. John Mabey's ability to convey these moments with a word, a pause, a look, a touch, is in this piece in a masterful way. The subtext of this couple's relationship is immediate and understood: heartfelt and honest.
  • Punch Bowl (Bascom & Isaac #1)
    29 Aug. 2023
    I swear I know both Isaac and Bascom. (I could name names...) This has all the makings of a meet-awkward-turned-adorable with surprisingly candid moments of truth dressed up in the middle of a cheap wedding reception. Forget the TV movie cliches; this is how it really happens, and I can't image anyone other than Scott Sickles make it work in such a fashion.

Pages