Recommended by Scott Sickles

Sometimes, it seems people agree to things for the sole purpose of making others wish they hadn't.

A great scene about a terrible date that never should have happened but did, and now here we all are, not just them, but us, the readers, and I have a sickening feeling we're going to get stuck with the check. Hansen's gift for comedy and rhythm shines, giving each character a distinct personality while keeping the proceedings moving at a brisk pace for the reader but at a presumably torturous one for the characters.

Perfect for any short play fest!

Sometimes a cry for help is so small, so subtle, so hidden, it barely makes a sound.

This is not one of those.

Funny and fast paced, with just the right tone and twists, POOPER is a deeply relatable piece no matter why you might need to use this bathroom right now!

A great comedy audition piece and a crowd pleaser for any evening or festival of monologues.

This play sneaks up on you.

It seems like it's about "how to ask a girl out" the stakes of with are super high anyway.

Then there's a reaction... a big one.
When we find out what's behind that reaction...
BOOM!

Gun culture, rape culture, Asian fetishization, the deadly consequences of male entitlement, all wrapped up in adolescent fear and familiar loss. The writing is beautifully observed, seemingly effortless yet endlessly complex.

Fantastic role for young actors and a powerful addition to any evening of short plays. This must be produced far and wide.

There needs to be a playlist.

I want to listen to every song mentioned in this staggeringly beautiful monologue and bawl my damn eyes out. They're not even those kinds of songs. But context...

Carbajal is a master of powerful simplicity. Speaker Ray doesn't need to get too emotional; you'll be doing that for him. He's just gonna talk about covid and music and dying and the life that's ending and how to exit it. Simple.

If you lost a loved one to Covid to whom music was important, you will hear them.

Damn, I'm crying right now.

When do boys stop being boys? When are they held accountable as men? Is accountability possible when the definition of manhood has changed to exclude it?

Baker vivisects innumerable complexities of male friendship, sexuality, and masculinity, keeping it laser focused over a single ride home.

The world and relationships are extraordinarily complex and clear, capturing the turning point in a lifelong friendship tainted by imbalances of power, sex, and loyalty.

Those of us finding familiarity in this wreckage will feel a crack in our chests. If you're lucky enough not to be us, it'll still leave a mark.

The description is creepy enough. The monologue lives up to it!

You can practically see the house even though it’s never described. There are enough details to paint many vivid images of the surroundings and circumstances. The tension is immediately off the charts and goes straight to eleven.

I’d love to experience this in performance. (I’m betting the less overtly sinister the performance, the scarier it will be.) A terrific short piece that would make an imprssion at an audition!

Maybe I'm a bad person, but this play made me want to take up knitting.

What formerly bullied adult child would want a friend like Kathy? She's supportive, loyal, and a very clear communicator. And damn does she get results!

Bullies are so often delineated into brutish boys or mean girls. Feeny-Williams reminds us that the mean girls can be just as physically brutal. She illustrated the scholastic pecking order with sharp accuracy before, shall we say, correcting it. Creepy, suspenseful, and gleefully horrific, MY FRIEND has great roles and requires an innovative director to pack maximum punch!

Who says romance is dead???

There are so many delightful elements to this play and Feeny-Williams relentlessly keeps them coming. The pace is breathtaking (at times, quite literally) but never hinders our getting to know the characters who you can't help but root for. Even Gino.

You'll see what I mean about Gino.

In the meantime, treat yourself to this pitch black romance. You'll be laughing for one reasons and smiling for others.

I didn’t know it was a sci-fi play when it started.

I highly recommend not knowing that but if you’re reading this, well, it’s too late for you.

IT’S TOO LATE FOR ALL OF YOU!!!

But like leading man Palmer, you won’t mind. Leading lady Marion does mind as she’s trapped in the play, unlike the delighted audience.

Loftus creates pitch perfect Noel Coward banter before skillfully revealing Marion and Palmer’s situation, trapping us all in a hostile new world. Elegant wit, gripping suspense, and escalating tension make DARK MATTER a must!

A lovely reconciliation drama capturing a moment when estranged friends, brought back together by an act of mean girl cruelty, admit an unexpected bond. Heyman capitalizes on their shared history and cultural differences to create unique human beings. There’s both a sad resignation to their respective lots in life, which provides a powerful contrast to their potential as friends and as people moving forward. The way they interpret “rottenness” is likewise filled with pathos, depth, and unexpected beauty.