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Evalena Lakin

Recommended by Evalena Lakin

  • Easy as Pie by Melanie Coffey
    5 May. 2020
    “ I'm so fascinated by tales of female revenge, and what brings women to actually act upon their rage in a physical way. Melanie has woven together a truly exciting ensemble piece that lets us feel the thrilling catharsis that comes with sweet, sweet vengeance while still grounding us in the frustrating realities of our political climate. I can't wait to see where this piece goes! ”
  • Mothers by Anna Ouyang Moench
    31 Jan. 2020
    “ MOTHERS shook me to my very core. The world Moench has constructed (the reversal of the racial hierarchy, the playful absurdity of teddy bears as human children, the obscurity of this society's decline into dystopia) is one of the most unique and compelling I've ever read. I love that we're not given all the answers and are trusted to put many of the pieces of this puzzle together ourselves. I love the strong, messy, flawed women that make up this alternate reality. I love love love this play. ”
  • Monica: This Play Is Not About Monica Lewinsky by Dianne Nora
    31 Jan. 2020
    “ I was absolutely hooked by the very first moment of this play. The initial image of a man standing over a woman with a frozen steak on her eye and the sharp, cutting dialogue that follows is nothing short of brilliant. Nora's scenes have depth and nuance WITHOUT being heavy-handed, a rare find in plays that reference the current political climate. I love that it’s an adaptation of history - the duality of a character that both is and isn’t Monica Lewinsky, simultaneously ambiguous and clear. ”
  • Mouthpiece by Chris Vanderark
    14 Sep. 2019
    “ Whip-smart and nothing short of spellbinding - I found myself hanging on every word of this darkly comic tennis match (if the losers of tennis matches got hacked to bits by assassins in the alley after the game, that is). Every time you think you have these deeply messy, flawed, totally captivating people figured out (who they are, what they want, what they'll do to get it, etc), Chris pulls the rug out from under you yet again. Can't wait to see where this goes! ”
  • Berta, Berta by Angelica Chéri
    14 Sep. 2019
    “ One of the better new period dramas I've read. This play is HOT in every sense of the word - the sweltering Mississippi night, the fiery debate in which every conversation between Leroy and Berta ultimately ends, and of course, their undeniably steamy chemistry. The poetry of Cheri's writing combined with the effortless way she weaves the original song into her entirely new story gives the text imagery as vivid and electric as her two leads. ”
  • Ideal House (PERMANENT PRODUCTION HIATUS, for reference only) by Cara Beth Heath
    4 Jul. 2019
    “ IDEAL HOUSE is such a great example of magical realism - Cara Beth weaves together elements of classic family drama with whimsical fantasy. I mean, why NOT have JK Rowling appear in the protagonist's house as a reluctant "spirit guide"? Cara Beth's writing is so clear, precise, and funny, that we're more than willing to accept and believe the wonderfully absurd reality she presents.

    Also, hooray for smart, strong, complex female leads!!!!!! ”
  • The Gravediggers Union by Brian James Polak
    3 Jul. 2019
    “ I loved how Brian captures the wonderfully weird people of this small New Hampshire town and fills them with life, despite the fact that they spend their lives taking care of the dead.

    In the reading that I saw, the cast was predominantly female, and I really appreciated that Brian wrote this play and these characters so that they can be played by any and all types of people. Would love to see it fully staged! ”
  • Minutes and Seconds by Chris Vanderark
    28 Jan. 2019
    “ I love how Chris drops us right smack-dab in the middle of the action - it's such an exhilarating way to begin the story, and because everything Chris gives us is so clear and vivid, I didn't have any trouble keeping up with this delightfully dysfunctional family. There is an incredible urgency to this play (I mean, duh, the sun just shut off) but Chris is also able to bring forth beautiful moments of stillness and self-reflection. Bravo, Chris!! ”