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Liz Dooley

Recommended by Liz Dooley

  • Rocks Algae Water Stars by Jonathan O'Neill
    30 Jun. 2019
    “ A perfect balance of odd-couple humor and existential dread. This play combines the best aspects of WAITING FOR GODOT with those of WALL-E—and it’s especially heartbreaking in the wake of the real-life “death” of the Opportunity rover earlier this year. I found myself buying wholeheartedly into the dry affection between the Rovers, and a near-miss at the end filled me with the dread of what might have been. Excellent work, O’Neill! ”
  • The Devil Eats Oreos? by Sharai Bohannon
    30 Jun. 2019
    “ I love a play that has a twist that works regardless of what you expect to happen, and THE DEVIL EATS OREOS? has that in spades. The relationship between the sisters drives this play as much as, if not more, than the possibility of a supernatural threat. Whatever happens to these women, you know it won’t be good, but you’re inclined to follow them in the hopes that it will because they’re such fully-realized characters and their sisterly bond is so strong and easy to empathize with. This would make a great addition to a Halloween showcase. ”
  • PARTNER OF — by Rachael Carnes
    30 Jun. 2019
    “ Everything about this play is chilling—from the language, to the expectations of Sally weighed against what the audience knows will happen, to the grieving normalization of Sally’s plight. An unflinching examination of the dark side of the American legacy. ”
  • ECHOLOCATION by Rachael Carnes
    30 Jun. 2019
    “ Timely, hard-hitting and heartbreaking in more ways than one. Carnes ties together two tragedies that occur at the hands of humans—climate change and the mistreatment of immigrant children—into one powerful, beautifully-written meditation on the nature of grief and human violence. I sincerely think this play deserves to be exposed to as many people as possible. ”
  • The Gorilla by Jennifer O'Grady
    30 Jun. 2019
    “ The central relationship in this play, between the gorilla and Myra, is so strong, and made stronger by the fact that it’s fed through casting, interaction, and performance—all without needing to make the closeness between the two explicit. Enough is said, or hinted at, to make both the tone and character dynamics at once clear and hauntingly ambiguous—that goes double for the ending, which evokes a sense of dread simply by implication. A haunting exploration on the effect that humans and animals have on each other. ”
  • I'll Tell You at Sunrise by Franky D. Gonzalez
    23 Jun. 2019
    “ This play takes a hopeful look at a bleak subject without cheapening the experience of that subject, which I very much appreciated. A lot of that is attributed to the ending—without giving too much away, the hopeful tone is slightly subverted without being undercut. A delicate balance of viewpoints that doesn’t talk down to its audience—and all within ten minutes. ”
  • A Sprig of Mistletoe Up in That One Little Corner of the Jail by Matthew Weaver
    23 Jun. 2019
    “ Raw and unsentimental without being cynical, with an overall melancholy that really works to make you feel the warmer moments. Alec is a pitch-perfect protagonist for this play: I fell in love with him as a character as soon as he opened his mouth, and my heart broke more and more for him the further along I read. Gonzales has a way of making the audience hope, possibly against hope, that these characters will come out all right. A wonderful, melancholy addition to a Christmas season. ”
  • TROY: A JUNIOR ALLY MONOLOGUE by Asher Wyndham
    16 Jun. 2019
    “ Troy is a delightful character—resolute ardent in his beliefs in the way that only kids can be—and his pep-talk is both emotional and incredibly inspiring in a way that gives hope for the future. The humor, attention to detail, and age-appropriate language are all pitch-perfect and give a wonderful sense of the character and his world. It's an compelling rallying cry and would be a great way to introduce younger audiences, or anyone really, to allyship. ”
  • Reserved Seat by River Timms
    16 Jun. 2019
    “ Timms absolutely nails the sense of numbness, confusion, and melancholy of the protagonist’s situation. Everything from the imagery to the language to the rhythm combines to put the audience in a situation that they will find impossible not to empathize with, whether they’ve lived it or not. A wonderful, quiet sort of heart-breaking. ”
  • The Great Gay Wall Talent Show by Lee R. Lawing
    16 Jun. 2019
    “ A rightful and well-deserved calling-out of the cruelty that happens along the border, while at the same time holding onto a sense of hope and empathy. Plus, it’s funny, and opens itself up to dozens—if not hundreds—of fun and innovative staging opportunities. I can see this being a blast for actors, directors, designers, and audiences alike. ”

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