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Meredith Bartmon

Recommended by Meredith Bartmon

  • THIS IS A MORTALITY PLAY SET IN AN OFFICE DEPOT by Haley Nelson
    12 May. 2021
    “ If you love absurdist comedy then this wonderfully alive play about death and retail might be for you. If you've ever been a millennial, loved a millennial or had a millennial provide you with customer service then this play might be for you. This story flirts with the big themes that haunt young people across all possible universes and then centers the gloriously mundane humanity at the center of those existential crises we've all been trudging through. I think you will fall in love with Adrien, Karlee and Tina, even though Tina is a little bit scary. 10/10 would recommend. ”
  • Thunderclap by Tamara Kissane
    12 May. 2021
    “ The 19th Amendment was a Thunderclap - one of the biggest democratizing events in US history. But now our Democracy hangs by a thread. This wonderfully theatrical, super funny short play explores how different generations of women grapple with the responsibility of civic engagement. Mom Rachel wants to build on the equity won by suffragists while teenager Alice believes voting is an illusion of power weaponized to comfort society into believing we live in a representative democracy and the only way to respond is to disengage. Between Gen X and Gen Z, American democracy hangs in the balance.  ”
  • Two Minutes After Dawn by Vinecia Coleman
    14 Oct. 2020
    “ Every time I interact with this exquisitely crafted play, I find something more deeply resonant. Coleman explores family and memory, big dreams and small rooms, exhaustion and ambition, and fear and love in a way that will meet any audience where they’re at. The characters and relationships are infinitely recognizable - whether it’s the rituals of a mother and daughter as child becomes parent, the uncanny instinct siblings have to press buttons, or the slow toxic divergence of husband and wife. Otherworldly and grounded, timeless and timely, haunting and enlightening - I highly recommend this play. ”
  • ADRIFT by Donna Warfield
    28 Aug. 2020
    “ Adrift has a wonderful pair of relatable characters in a hilariously extreme situation. I'm totally rooting for the two misfits throughout. The dialogue is well paced, the high stakes world around them is crystal clear, and Donna has a lot of fun upending gender stereotypes as well. This piece has so much opportunity for physical comedy gold as well as really poignant human interaction. I would highly recommend it for any short play program. ”
  • Vegan-tarian by Brian Cohen
    28 Aug. 2020
    “ The only thing more fun than watching this play is watching it a second time. The final reveal made my jaw drop in delighted horror on first viewing while the second time revealed all the wonderful bread crumbs that Brian uses to set up the world of the play. I'm really drawn to the absurd world he has imagined. The dialogue (and stage directions) are so juicy for the actors to sink their teeth into and will be such a great ride for the audience. I would recommend this to any short play program. ”
  • ONE STONE by Kathleen Cahill
    21 Aug. 2020
    “ An intricately woven theatrical exploration of time and the woman who helped define it. When you look back at history, cause and effect seem obvious - Mileva's contribution was lost before it even began. But when you are stuck in the present, on the linear plane of human existence - time moving stubbornly forward - choices are more complicated, more human. By weaving Mileva's knowing narration with her linear timeline, Cahill has explored the science (and tragic love story) of Mileva Maric and Albert Einstein through brilliantly layered dramatic form. I can't wait to see this fully staged.
    ”
  • As I Was, Not As I Am by Alice Hakvaag
    20 Aug. 2020
    “ It’s remarkable how developed Alice’s playwright voice is in relation to her journey. This mature instinct for how to tell her stories mixed with youthful ‘fuck-it’ energy is exciting. The characters are relatable, especially the ‘antagonist’ - which feels honest. The play confronts how healthy young people deal with sickness and frailty when hit head-on by the reality of death. The final scenes of the play are so beautiful in their precision of character – Zarya flees, Melissa attacks, and steady Jeanine tries to hold on. While you’re here, I also highly recommend you read Acute Exposure. ”
  • Mountain Law by Melissa Leilani Larson
    20 Aug. 2020
    “ How do women survive the daily onslaught of white noise and isolation? Mountain Law takes a relevant POV on the individual’s flexible relationship with faith in the light of hardship and changing circumstances. Tamson is clearly a devout woman but she learns to be unashamed of her fallible humanity. Howard is strict in his beliefs but not immovable. It’s a resonant reminder that faith isn’t a monolith. Melissa writes in a beautifully balanced mix of narrative and theatrical storytelling. She asks the audience to observe a time and place they may be viewing too narrowly. ”
  • Paint Night by Carey Crim
    19 Mar. 2020
    “ Paint Night is a hilarious and beautifully woven story about how women support each other (or fail to) in an unpredictable world. The depth of each woman's pain is rendered in an uproarious and messily human night of drinking and painting. Crim has illustrated how life, family and friendship go on despite the terrifying encroachment of outside ills and uncertain times. ”
  • The Last Broadcast by Carey Crim
    6 Mar. 2020
    “ The Last Broadcast is an engrossing family drama with a mysterious secret. Carey Crim’s characteristically 'artful economy of dialogue' and patient pacing shines. By portraying a family that must learn to love one another in spite of sharp faults and mistakes, Crim invites the audience to remember the compassion of honesty in a harsh world. I was left with this thought; humans can attempt to deny their nightmares but the specter of trauma will haunt you until you find the courage to let the memory into the light. ”

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