Recommended by John Busser

  • John Busser: A Little Light by Lee R. Lawing
    “

    12.21.24 - What starts out as an innocuous meeting on a park bench turns into a nightmare for a man who made the other person's entire life a nightmare years earlier. Lee Lawing pulled the rug out from under me as surely as Betsy did to Andrew. And, in a fitting bit of karma, Andrew is the one who had this coming (after telling the police that she had wanted it back then). Revenge as sharp as a knitting needle.

    12.21.24 - What starts out as an innocuous meeting on a park bench turns into a nightmare for a man who made the other person's entire life a nightmare years earlier. Lee Lawing pulled the rug out from under me as surely as Betsy did to Andrew. And, in a fitting bit of karma, Andrew is the one who had this coming (after telling the police that she had wanted it back then). Revenge as sharp as a knitting needle.

    ”
  • John Busser: Special Peppermint by Evan Baughfman
    “

    12.21.24 - I wonder if Evan Baufghman's eggnog has too much NyQuil in it. Something has to account for the absolute bonkers plot of this dark, hilarious-as-f*ck look at family tradition, baking and holiday secrets! I'm always assured when I read a play by Evan, that it will be both funny and disturbing (but in the best way). This would be a great addition to a night of holiday shorts, if only to watch the audience reaction when things get cooking. Although I'm sure peppermint sales will plummet.

    12.21.24 - I wonder if Evan Baufghman's eggnog has too much NyQuil in it. Something has to account for the absolute bonkers plot of this dark, hilarious-as-f*ck look at family tradition, baking and holiday secrets! I'm always assured when I read a play by Evan, that it will be both funny and disturbing (but in the best way). This would be a great addition to a night of holiday shorts, if only to watch the audience reaction when things get cooking. Although I'm sure peppermint sales will plummet.

    ”
  • John Busser: Cardinal Visitation by Donald E. Baker
    “

    12.21.24 - I've no idea if Donald Baker intended this or not, but I took heart in the feeling that Lorna, as portrayed in this heart-warming short, had possibly already made up her mind to attend Todd's wedding. After all, we see the depths of delusion most intolerant people have about things they don't agree with. The cardinal's reaction(?) to the invite could easily have been interpreted as the exact opposite of Lorna's preferred viewpoint. That gave me hope. A wonderful message from Mom(?)!

    12.21.24 - I've no idea if Donald Baker intended this or not, but I took heart in the feeling that Lorna, as portrayed in this heart-warming short, had possibly already made up her mind to attend Todd's wedding. After all, we see the depths of delusion most intolerant people have about things they don't agree with. The cardinal's reaction(?) to the invite could easily have been interpreted as the exact opposite of Lorna's preferred viewpoint. That gave me hope. A wonderful message from Mom(?)!

    ”
  • John Busser: I Know You Are But What Am I? by Emily McClain
    “

    12.21.24 - Wonderfully witty political satire, and it's done with almost no dialogue. Now THAT'S talent. Emily McClain gives us a less-than-10-minute lesson in our political spectrum and how limited it truly is, all while double-dosing us with a look at consumer shopping trends and psychological color tropes. It's brilliant. This will be not only a hoot for the actors, and the set designers, but a director orchestrating all this should have be puffing up their chest too.

    12.21.24 - Wonderfully witty political satire, and it's done with almost no dialogue. Now THAT'S talent. Emily McClain gives us a less-than-10-minute lesson in our political spectrum and how limited it truly is, all while double-dosing us with a look at consumer shopping trends and psychological color tropes. It's brilliant. This will be not only a hoot for the actors, and the set designers, but a director orchestrating all this should have be puffing up their chest too.

    ”
  • John Busser: Under Multicolored Lights by DC Cathro
    “

    12.21.24 - Holidays can be the roughest time of year for split families. With so much hurt, resentment and confusion, any happy front gets pushed to the back. Young Charlie just wants something positive in his life, and he finds a way to get it, unsafe as it is. DC Cathro captures the anger between his parents, both blaming the other for this lapse in judgement, but he allows us to identify with them, and are relieved when they come to an agreement as to how to proceed. Uplifting and hopeful.

    12.21.24 - Holidays can be the roughest time of year for split families. With so much hurt, resentment and confusion, any happy front gets pushed to the back. Young Charlie just wants something positive in his life, and he finds a way to get it, unsafe as it is. DC Cathro captures the anger between his parents, both blaming the other for this lapse in judgement, but he allows us to identify with them, and are relieved when they come to an agreement as to how to proceed. Uplifting and hopeful.

    ”
  • John Busser: Under The Mistletoe by Christopher Plumridge
    “

    12.21.24 - Oh Chris Plumridge is a naughty boy. Anyone who writes such darkly funny comedy like this can't be on the nice list. And thank God for that! Because he DID write just such a funny piece about a Santa that is making too much with the merry (and could Mommy's name BE Mary, maybe?) and a Daddy wondering if he's married to a ho-ho-hoe!

    12.21.24 - Oh Chris Plumridge is a naughty boy. Anyone who writes such darkly funny comedy like this can't be on the nice list. And thank God for that! Because he DID write just such a funny piece about a Santa that is making too much with the merry (and could Mommy's name BE Mary, maybe?) and a Daddy wondering if he's married to a ho-ho-hoe!

    ”
  • John Busser: What the Cat Dragged In by Greg Mandryk
    “

    12.21.24 - The only thing Greg Mandryk excels at more that comedy, is horror, and this short does both is equal measure. What begins as an act of kindness turns into a fight for survival, for both Jen and Lily. Well, for whatever they brought into their home too. And it was a wise decision to keep the audience (as well as the girls) in the dark as to just what it is. That just ups the creep factor a hundredfold. The audio alone is terrifying.

    12.21.24 - The only thing Greg Mandryk excels at more that comedy, is horror, and this short does both is equal measure. What begins as an act of kindness turns into a fight for survival, for both Jen and Lily. Well, for whatever they brought into their home too. And it was a wise decision to keep the audience (as well as the girls) in the dark as to just what it is. That just ups the creep factor a hundredfold. The audio alone is terrifying.

    ”
  • John Busser: In My World, an Entire Entenmann’s Cheese Danish is One Serving by Christopher Soucy
    “

    12.21.24 - Life is an accumulation of all the burdens we carry, good and bad, and we can reach a point of "no more". Debbie knows this and has decided to mark the occasion her own danish-filled way. Chris Soucy gives us an insightful look at that last straw (I too always thought of it as only the bad things. Not so anymore, thanks to this look at how heavy our load can become, even with the good. So dig in to this philosophical dessert. The only thing it'll fatten up is your satisfaction.

    12.21.24 - Life is an accumulation of all the burdens we carry, good and bad, and we can reach a point of "no more". Debbie knows this and has decided to mark the occasion her own danish-filled way. Chris Soucy gives us an insightful look at that last straw (I too always thought of it as only the bad things. Not so anymore, thanks to this look at how heavy our load can become, even with the good. So dig in to this philosophical dessert. The only thing it'll fatten up is your satisfaction.

    ”
  • John Busser: There's Nothing to See Here So Just Move Along Already! by Scott Sickles
    “

    12.21.24 - Don't be fooled. There's plenty to see here, so DON'T move along. Take in this witty, gently humorous dark comedy by Scott Sickles. We have a murder, or do we? A frayed relationship, or is it? Doctored stuffing, which frankly doesn't need it. Lots of things here look one way, but could turn out to be another, which is the beauty of this short. Nothing is obvious, and that's what keeps us intrigued. A perfect holiday gift.

    12.21.24 - Don't be fooled. There's plenty to see here, so DON'T move along. Take in this witty, gently humorous dark comedy by Scott Sickles. We have a murder, or do we? A frayed relationship, or is it? Doctored stuffing, which frankly doesn't need it. Lots of things here look one way, but could turn out to be another, which is the beauty of this short. Nothing is obvious, and that's what keeps us intrigued. A perfect holiday gift.

    ”
  • John Busser: George Santos is a Farshtunkener! by David Lipschutz
    “

    12.20.24 - I want to see this performed, preferably with the guest of dishonor in the audience (he can always send Kitara Ravache in his place if he can't make it). A solid comic gem, it's also a quick and easy primer into Jewish insults that I want to keep in my back pocket for any occasion. Thank David Lipschutz for this educational moment.

    12.20.24 - I want to see this performed, preferably with the guest of dishonor in the audience (he can always send Kitara Ravache in his place if he can't make it). A solid comic gem, it's also a quick and easy primer into Jewish insults that I want to keep in my back pocket for any occasion. Thank David Lipschutz for this educational moment.

    ”