Recommended by Ken Love

I did not just READ this play. I actually heard it, absorbed every word, and was moved by the characters anger, pain, delusion and - yes - sense of helplessness. As an African American man who was born in the North and has lived in the South (and in California), every line of dialogue in this play carried the unbearable sting of recognition. At times, I felt like an interloper, privy to the private conversations and asides of those struggling with ugly, tortured beliefs and misconceptions. Mr. Friedman definitely knows his world. Kudos!

When a short 2 hander is done well, it's like a brief respite. Or a good, long swallow of a sweet drink with a tart aftertaste. I could definitely see "Poetica" staged with 2 actors, engaging in the staccato dialogue over wine. Enjoyable from start to finish!

I read through "Accidental Roommates" in one whirlwind sitting and was captivated throughout. The humor is gentle without being soft. The drama and characterization solid without no hint of heavy-handedness, if you will. And it's such a treat to encounter a play with engaging "older" characters who are so utterly . . . human! I'd love to see this on its feet!

The best sci fi/fantasy works equally well as parable. Or metaphor . . . but I would prefer to see this compelling, humorous yet ultimately tragic piece as a parable. That speaks to our current troubled time. And, perhaps - unfortunately - to our future.

As a diehard fan of noir, crime fiction and good, flat-out drama, "Lenny and Jenny" was - for lack of a better term - a treat. The dialogue is crisp and incisive, the characterization engaging, vivid. I love chance encounters that not only work, but beg to lodge in the memory. Nice work, Mr. Byham!

What really nailed it for me with this play was the ending. I went along for the ride, enjoying it as I read - all the while expecting an agreeable conclusion - yet received, instead, a jolt of lightning in a shot glass. And let me say that I love it when a writer can take a well-worn subject and breathe fresh, exuberant life into it. Kudos!

As a hyper-fan of the noir/crime genre, "Jacquie Floyd Sent Me" had me hooked from start to finish. Rachel Feeny-Williams put everything that needed to be heard and seen in this short piece, her best accomplishment being characters so vividly drawn in the plays brief running time. Well done!

I could definitely see this as the preface, if you will, of a bigger play. Or a film. Or . . . how about if we let this short, incisive work stand on its own. As it is. And just leave the audience wanting more. And guessing what in the hell happened next. Obsessing over it, even. The power of this piece is clearly in what isn't said or shown. Nicely done!

Now, it's my turn to join the many who have recommended this short play, a detailed snapshot of two people - one a legendary movie star, the other a vet, a common man with modest aspirations. The dialogue and characterization are never trite or condescending. The piece is warm and embracing, yet never mawkish or sentimental. It's world is black-and-white and melodramatic. And worth every minute of one's time. Highly recommended.

There is no doubt in my mind that this piece would be as difficult to see performed as it has been to read. Nothing is quiant. There is no bitterness. Not one hint of artifice anywhere. I would use the word "bittersweet", yet - in my opinion - it fails to serve as even an adequate description. For those who can handle 'end of life' themes, it is highly recommended.