Recommended by Scott Sickles

Fast paced and funny without a trace of ennui, and how often do you get to say that about a take on GODOT?!

Norkin has great fun with these two characters, one mild and constant, the other subtly bouncing between moods and attitudes, kindness and dickishness. Their perfectly crafted conversation smoothly rolls from subject to subject with ease, astute wit, and a hilarious yet grounded absurdism.

I would love to see this play over and over, even though I hope these two characters never meet again. Except of course when this play is performed. Over and over!

It's one thing when you walk into an alternate reality, but what happens when an alternate version of everything you've always known comes to you. Via a referral!

Silverman creates a wonderfully absurd circumstance in the midst of normal, albeit somewhat posh, everyday surroundings. The balance of panic vs calm is a perfect nudge to anyone who needs a little more bravery. It's also a tremendously loving appreciation of people and their individual qualities, both simple and complex, ordinary and unexpected. From the title to the fade, TRESSEME MUCHO delights!

Damn.

Cole takes a familiar narrative - deciding to put a relative with dementia into home - fortified it with her typically terrific characterizations (the understatement here is masterful) and gives the proceedings a perfect little kick!

Great roles. Super easy to stage. Relatable and highly entertaining!

“Sometimes… things that are expensive… are worse.” ~ Aunt Freckle

Influencer culture deserves all the ribbing it gets. And FFS, has this chick never heard of a parasol??? Guess not! Which makes her fate even more delicious. Raven is perfectly pompous and Dorothy is who we want to be when we’re 80: Jedi calm, Buddha zen, and right on time with a zing!

With great actors and clever staging, this will be a treat to watch!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Because oh yes, it’s a thing!

Cole deftly takes on street harassment in this five-minute satire, avoiding preachiness while making a necessary statement. Even though the characters represent positions in a debate, they all have individual, human personalities.

I hope we all run into each other on January 8. Bring your opera glasses!

I’M NUMBER TWO!!!

I’m so glad Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend recommended this first so I could be second!

Delightfully silly from the word go and it just gets bigger and better the more the story squeezes out. There’s even a great big splat of an ending!

GO POOP!!!

The opening stage direction had me GUFFAWING!!! I didn't read the description so if you have, your mileage might vary, but even so, the guffaws DO NOT STOP!

If you've ever seen videos of today's kids attempting to use rotary phones, this will be especially funny. But it's wonderful regardless! Martineau has created delightful characters, not a mean spirit among them, while subtly building their world through banter. What could have been a sketch turns into a grand adventure. Laughs and surprises abound.

The best part: in Martineau's future, doughnuts are still a thing!

A weighty treatise on identity and ethics as three pawns in a longstanding con game come to grips with the spiritual cost of doing business. In one furious minute, innocence is lost to self-awareness as the big picture of our protagonist's life reveals itself to be infinitely vast and dark. Yet, Hall instills this inanimate object with agency and agony, inspiring them to call upon their comrades, already resigned to their roles in this deception, reminding the audience that they too can give way to their better angels and change the outcome. An existential triumph!

Usually, it's better if the characters want something. However... not knowing what they wants, or even what wanting is, can lead to great comic banter and even some metaphysical pondering.

If you've ever known someone who (generally because of their upbringing) didn't know they could want things of their own, Azathoth's dilemma is especially moving, and watching him discover his wants is thrilling!

Meanwhile, Gina's need to serve chaos in the wake of personal turmoil, bad time management, and a serious lack of sleep results in a some terrible decisions and lots of laughs.

A great case for virtual theater!

SHAMELESS!

In the BEST WAY!

Pynn perfectly captures the urban malaise of the subway commute! She also defies anyone who might dare to tell her that you can't describe thoughts in stage directions. (Hell, if Beckett can tell us "Gogo misses Didi"...) Playwright and play exhibit a thorough trust of their actors, director, and especially their sound designer.

This would be fascinating to stage, thrilling to perform, and enchanting to watch. And its flagrant romanticism was a balm for my weary soul!

It almost makes me want to ride the subway!

Almost...

Brava!