Recommended by Ken Love

Years ago, a movie reviewer, on seeing a particular film she admired, said, quote: ". . . this is a work which says NO in thunder". Unquote. I dare say that the same metaphor should apply to this short, powerful piece. It is a cry from a dark, neglected place that needs to be heard and reckoned with. Kudos!

With a nod to Hemingway's "Soldier's Home" and the 1946 film "The Best Years of Our Lives", this mystery/drama in a post war setting is highly compelling and - from beginning to end - never loses its grip. The characterization is fully dimensioned, with dialogue that is evocative of the era yet never sounds trite. Would work exceedingly well on stage or film.

The sign of a truly engaging work is that it leaves you wanting more. The horrific circumstances, the events, the dilemma, the irony - all are carried in the souls of the characters, who are so humanly drawn. Painfully told, yet necessary. Kudos!

Yes, what actually occurred in that room between Christine's daughter and her daughters friend is anyones guess. And the fact that we never know exactly what happened is the point, and what's makes this short work so riveting. This is the second work that I've read by Debra A. Cole. And I must admit that I'm becoming a fan!

A touching, heartfelt and lyrical work in the vein of Paul Zindel's "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon-Marigolds", made all the more effective with beautifully rendered characters and eloquent dialogue. The play was an absolute joy to read.

A unique take on a persistent and uniquely American conundrum. Highly believable characters with dialogue that cuts ever so deeply. A satisfying, yet heartbreaking read. Well done!

How I love a good dark comedy! Which, by the way, is not easy to pull off. Mr. LeBlanc's talent is in top form with this short work. Terrific dialogue and a good punchline at the end. Nicely done!

A compelling idea: two women - an ex-wife and an illicit lover - at the funeral of the man whom both were involved with. The piece avoids anger and melodrama. And the felt pain from both characters is never succumbed to. By the time the last line of dialogue was spoken, I found myself wanting to know more about these women. Nicely done!

Beautifully felt characters speaking beautifully felt dialogue in a quite precarious situation. Nothing sappy or forced. A deeply satisfying read. Kudos!

The plays of Horton Foote and Marsha Norman come to mind after reading this tortured, lyrical work. An execution, the selling of property and the pain of familial relationships intersect and are brought to life through vivid, dimensioned characters. A fulfilling reading experience that I am sure would be matched by seeing it staged.