Recommended by Marj O'Neill-Butler

What starts as a simple tale about illness and dying turns on its heel and caresses memories and familial love. This gentle little play imparts the importance of family and remembrance. Makes me want to look at my family albums, but I still won't eat pistachio ice cream!

Officer Hill is doing his best by looking after Frank's Dad, Leonard, who has been arrested for running around naked and proclaiming he is an alien. Loftus has us convinced Leonard is crazy until a delicious twist at the end of the play.

This is a tasty bit of writing about two men stranded on a tiny island. A surprise guest previously hiding on the island may become an answer to their prayers. Crisp, funny dialogue adds to the fun.

Rose's monologue brings up pain to the reader. And yet, there is strength in retelling past surgeries and rehab. About how the human spirit can prevail and connect one to a past life.

It's hard to imagine the pain that Jenny and Will are going through...every parent's nightmare. Bruce Karp's tender dialogue helps us get through the moments of this play. It is sad, but ever hopeful that they, the parents, can move on after their family tragedy and let their memories be a blessing.

When a disability is unseen, it can cause as many problems as one that is readily seen. A scooter and a bad left eye bring the above sentence into full 'sight'. Robert Weibezahl brings insight and humor in his monologue about a differently-abled person and their unintended meeting with a scooter.

I don't want to hire the Erstwhile Moving, Storage, & Rubbish Removal Company for fear of what might disappear with the stuff. This is a funny, clever script by Weibezahl about what constitutes stuff...human or inanimate. And he has cleverly written it with flexible, blind casting.

When you want to be alone, one of those strange people comes along. Only he's not so strange, just still a bit dorky. A funny two-hander about two classmates from years before. Just listened to a really good podcast. It's funny and moving.

This is a good story and I believed it right up to the end. What a good son...not! Creepy to read on Halloween! Glad my children live far away.

Daring and imaginative, I heard this play read at the Midwest Dramatists Conference. I hope the director is there when I croak.