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David Beardsley

Recommended by David Beardsley

  • Accidental Fatal Attraction by Rachel Feeny-Williams
    12 Nov. 2021
    “ This may be the most unlikely, fun, creative love story I’ve read! The humor just bubbles up organically because Feeny-Williams puts characters in a genuinely funny situation (albeit dark), and then lets things play out to their inevitably absurd ends. Nothing can stop love, it seems—not even a gun with a silencer. Festival audiences will love this play. ”
  • Of Butterflies and Roses by Claudia Haas
    9 Nov. 2021
    “ A poignant play about loss and grief, and the stories and memories that we share and are such an important part of coping. It’s the characters who make this play. They have such contrasting personalities, and react to their situation so differently. Yet, they are there for each other, and it is that supportive bond, that ultimately sees them through. ”
  • Places by Andrew Martineau
    3 Nov. 2021
    “ I really enjoyed this play! The dialogue is terrific and very funny. And all the twists and turns are head spinning. By the end, I was as confused about what is reality as Mina is -- assuming, of course, that Mina is her real name and she actually was confused. I have no idea, but I'm entertained. Nicely done! ”
  • The Shark Play by Miranda Jonté
    31 Oct. 2021
    “ Sometimes pursuing your passions comes at a cost: it requires you to live an unconventional lifestyle that is thrilling, but isolates you from those living more traditional 9-to-5 lives. That’s where Ben and Sully, popular, shark-tracking media personalities, find themselves. Ben’s desire for more “normalcy” brings them to a crossroads, professionally and personally, and leads to an emotional revelation from Sully. The fact that it all takes place at sea, while giant Great Whites circle their boat and their seasick cameraman wretches over the side, adds a delicious layer of chaos to this memorable dark comedy. Love it! ”
  • The Roast by Julie Zaffarano
    27 Oct. 2021
    “ I had to read the end of this play twice, just to be sure that I really understood what I was reading, that it wasn’t ending on some poignant reflection on grief and how much she missed cooking for the family members she had lost. Um, nope. It will be awhile before I forget the line, “This roast is really rare.” ”
  • Curtains Down by Rachel Feeny-Williams
    27 Oct. 2021
    “ It's another night in the land of lost dreams and has beens. Or is it? Five actors, each at different stages in their careers but all of them struggling, meet in a dive bar to drown their sorrows. As they share their stories with each other, the resulting sense of camaraderie begins to restore their confidence and strengthen their resolve. This fun play, with rich characters and snappy dialogue, reminds us that none of us can really make it on our own. ”
  • Worth it? by Rachel Feeny-Williams
    27 Oct. 2021
    “ Is he a mugger or a couples counselor? It's hard to tell in this hilarious short play about a couple whose night, and then whose lives, get turned completely upside down when a thief who holds them up at gun point and then uses their respective reactions to reveal the lies at the heart of their relationship. Feeny-Williams packs a lot of fun twists into very few pages and has written a short comedy that's sure to please audiences. It would be a lot of fun to see this one in the hands of three actors who really understand humor. ”
  • Mrs Dilber's Christmas Carol. by Arthur M Jolly
    27 Oct. 2021
    “ Told from the eye-rolling perspective of Mrs. Dilber, Ebenezer Scrooge's mistreated housekeeper, Jolly's hilarious prequel to A Christmas Carol exposes the classism of the Dickens classic. Mrs. Dilber's bedchamber serves as the "staging area" for Dickens' ghosts, and she derails their plans by convincing them to give her a sneak peek of the night they've planned for Scrooge. Cameo's by The Little Match Girl and Dr. Jekyll (who transforms a hulking, murderous Tiny Tim into the sweet child we know) add to fun--especially the spectacular and bloody "revolution" that an outraged Mrs. Dilber foments in reaction to all she sees. ”
  • The Home for Retired Canadian Girlfriends by John Bavoso
    24 Oct. 2021
    “ This is a play I have been meaning to read for a long time—I mean, that title! Boy, am I glad I finally did. John Bavoso packs so much into it, and he succeeds gloriously at the challenging task of writing a ten-minute play with a true beginning, middle, and end. The dialogue is terrific (and hilarious), the characters jump off the page, and themes are meaningful and important. I really enjoyed this play! ”
  • Blind No. 7 by Philip Middleton Williams
    24 Oct. 2021
    “ I enjoy the quiet gentleness of this play—male-bonding without the chest-thumping, just a father and two sons spending time together and enjoying each other’s company. These are the kinds of moments that mean the most when you are growing up, and, though we spend just a short time with these characters, the depth and strength of their relationship jumps off the page. ”

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