Recommended by Philip Middleton Williams

It's always the details that matter, and in telling this kind of story, Christopher Soucy has no peer. Read this play without giving it your full attention and you will miss the clues behind the real terror that haunts this little town in Oregon. The scary thing is that there are those of us who could see the same scenario play out in towns and cities across the country, and there's nothing to prevent it from happening.

A father and son meet up at a bar... No, it's not a joke, it's the start of a two-hander by one of my favorite playwrights. Robert Weibezahl pulls no punches in this story of heritage and brutal honesty about a topic that's in the news but is also timeless. Martin loves his son, but he hates what he's become, and he shows it in the way only a Da can. I would love to see this on stage and shared. Good on ya, Bob.

The stories we tell each other, be they drawn from legends, folklore or the bible, play a huge part in our lives and the way we shape them and our connections with each other. In this tale of a legend told by Marshall Logan Gibbs, he takes us into the world seen in terms of historical fact, mystic presence, and harsh reality. The characters are multidimensional and cunningly wrought and the design possibilities are endless. It's more than scary: it's imaginatively real.

I heard this charming and quirky-sentimental play read at the 2025 Midwest Dramatists Conference. Having lived in a part of the country where this takes place and among the folks like Gunnar, Max, and Ingrid, not only did I identify with the theme, I felt like I was with them. The quiet and patient longing for connection with other souls balanced with Scott Sickles' humor put me in mind of old friends and lost loves. And "Fargo."

Ben Corbett never minces words, and like his one-person "Fat Men in Yoga Pants," he takes you gently into a place and then tells you exactly what he has to say and what you need to hear. This two-hander is powerful without being harsh, strong without being overwhelming, and in doing so, the audience will be confronted with some absolute truths. Speaking as a recovering teacher, I felt every word and emotion to my core, and so will you. Bravo, Ben.

While Steven Satta gives away a bit of the play with his tip-off of "Who's On First," I still loved the way it played out because it sounded less like a comedy routine and more like the often-encountered nervousness when two people meet up and find themselves tongue-tied by their overwhelming sense of attraction and hope that something good will happen. These three natural characters make it a joy to watch.

When one is certain of the outcome of an event, it has a way of clearing the mind. Evan and Lena know what's coming, so there's no time for deception. The circumstances of their meeting may seem random, but as the story goes on, I began to suspect that fate or karma was playing its last hand. Meditative with just the right amount of humor, gallows or otherwise.

I am sure that Allan Maule had no idea that this play would touch me so deeply -- or maybe he did. Anyway, this backyard playdate chat between two dads reminded me of my own father who had a soft spot for his sons and sea shanties and who had no problem trying to sing them; not for profit but for making a connection. It's funny and touching, but most of all I think that the playwright knew exactly what he was doing and showing us that being a dad means unconditional love no matter what.

If the old saying "age is just a number" is really true, then this play would show us that those numbers represent something more than ticks of the clock or the pages of a calendar. Elana Gartner shows us two people in the various stages of their relationship by changing the framework, but does their connection really alter with time passages one way or the other? A lot to think about, and a wonderful offering for actors and their abilities to seamlessly adapt.

I am very sure that there are a lot of people who will see this play and think "Oh, wow, skating kinda close to reality here," and hope that no one who knows them sees behind the curtain. Marshall Logan Gibbs has done a fine turn of storytelling with just the right amount of heart and humor. The reading at Midwest Dramatists 2025 set me up to see this in a full production, and I hope that happens soon.