Recommended by Scott Sickles

Grippingly suspenseful! I held my breath as I read it. Whether or not the woman is actually in peril is uncertain, and that's the point. It's impossible to tell. Nothing night happen or the worst could happen, and there are many variations on "the worst."

One moment that struck me was when the woman considers walking to another bus stop. Suddenly, I was deeply concerned for a fictional woman's safety, worried that she might become even more vulnerable between this stop and another. Was it safer to wait it out? Could she make it there safely?

A 3-minute masterpiece!

I highly recommend reading this piece out loud. Once you start, you can't stop! It is a raging river of words, thoughts, and emotion. It will sweep you away!

I especially recommend reading this aloud if you are a man, especially a heterosexual man. You will learn so much if you keep your ears, mind and heart open. I won't tell you what; the play speaks clearly for itself.

I hope this gets produced everywhere and often, and as described in the stage directions. A truly powerful work of art, and a gift for female actors over 50.

Matthew Weaver has a gift for turning awkward and uncomfortabe transgressions into moments that are heartfelt, human, complex and real. These scenarios usually (in the few plays I've read) involve boys in their adolescence and women who are not. It could get icky. But taking that risk is what raises the stakes, and the writing is never exploitative or gratuitous. Here an inappropriate and unfair request is made. Yet the characters are so well-drawn in their yearnings that it feels more like you're watching life than reading a play. Their actions are as honest and their actions are complex. Excellent!

A gut-punch! John Minigan illuminates part of the fallout of the 2016 election that many men probably wouldn't think of; I know I didn't. This play is a perfect illustration of how the highest levels of government affect citizens in the most intimate and violent ways, and dares to follow-through on the bleak consequences of what is already a worst-case scenario. A must-read, especially for Trump-voting parents of women and girls. It should be produced everywhere.

Beautiful. Just beautiful.
An exquisite take on the old O Henry tale in the least exquisite of places. Gonzalez creates a profoundly deep friendship between two guys in unfortunate circumstances, then invites us into their world. Their space is confined but their bond is vast, heartfelt and unshakeable.

Adorable! Somewhere between fully anthropomorphized and animal-who-just-happens-to-speak, Chauncey is having a bad day that we've all had. His support human is fighting an uphill battle, both to get Chauncey to complete a simple survey, and to provide reassurance to a raccoon in denial about his shortcomings - a common symptom of the post-breakup blues. Ultimately, it's a play about who's really there for you, even when you want someone else.

Perfect! Just perfect! A lovely ten-minute pitch-black comedy with two wonderful roles for older actresses. It's full of delightful surprises and grounded in unshakeable kinship and love. I had the pleasure of seeing this at Greenhouse Ensemble in NYC and it was wonderful to revisit on the page!

One minute. One page. It still managed to hit me where I live and piss me off. A perfect snapshot of Evangelical pseudo-Christian hypocrisy in action. The magic in the economy of the writing comes in a smile... a smile that made me clench my fist. Strong storytelling in almost no time at all.

Matthew Weaver has clearly been reading the diary I don't actually keep and transcribing all the thoughts and feelings from my lonely heart into this tug of war between a man and his self esteem, a tug of war were both parties are pushing instead of pulling. The play in an honest and insightful delight for and about those who yearn without gumption. Just like my diary would be if I wrote it.

This is one of my favorite things that I have read in my life! I'm not even exaggerating.

Normally, I try to read pieces that don't have more than one or two recommendations, if any, but the description was irresistible, as is the play, especially if you read it aloud in your best Rick Moranis voice, which I did.

The concept is cute enough, but the execution is masterful. Lawings's soaring, almost unweildy vernacular is a heartfelt symphony of longing, love and regret, somehow even more beautiful than it is funny and it's hilarious!