Recommended by John Busser

A creepy little morality tale of a man who stood by while a horrific crime was committed and then profited by it, and is about to get his comeuppance. What makes it more horrifying is that he knows deep down that not only is justice being served, but that he'll never see it coming. Or maybe he will. And there's nothing he can do about it. A fun Halloween play.

Sometimes the need to fit in gets the better of our judgement, and nowhere is this better displayed than in Daniel Prillaman's very funny look at mothers, daughters and Satanic rites. Used to be evil could be exposed by the harsh light of day. Now all it takes is a little girl wanting mommy. Perfect!

While the storytelling would work just as well as a wordless piece (it's both simple and elegant), the extra layering of the spoken narrative adds not only light humor to the piece, but a peeling open of the hearts of the protagonists. How often we write out own narration to the events in our heads. Steve Martin brings it to the fore, and the result is eminently satisfying.

A piece about the shared experience of art and it's effect on us is told in a unique way by making the audience part of the art being created and seeing that appreciation from two sides of the coin. What an ingenious concept and execution. Bravo Steve.

I laughed before I started reading the actual play (the male character of the piece has the best name, especially for a joke later in the play - pg 3 - that appealed to the worst instincts of a punster like myself). Marj O'Neill-Butler has penned a sharp, funny little piece about a man who gets the proper comeuppance for some pretty boorish behavior when he can't take a hint, and the quick-talking woman who administers it with a deft touch. The ending could not be more appropriate.

Well, THAT escalated quickly! I definitely did not see that coming as far as where I thought this piece was going. But what a great idea! We usually celebrate the dead at a funeral or wake, but this was a celebration of a new phase of life from the most unlikely of places. I love that the deceased had such a hand in all of the events of the play, and this would be a fun piece for subverting expectations. Well done!

At first I thought, Doug DeVita is a romantic at heart, showing the trials and tribulations of the dating scene for those who are perhaps past their prime and not hopeful for their prospects. Then, a bit of sunshine enters and new friendships start and--- hold on! She's WHAT? and He's WHO? And that other guy looks like someone else but ISN'T? Holy cow, the last half of this play is one fun twist after another. I got whiplash from the last few pages! I don't know how you'd stage all this, but man, it would be fun to try.

I loved this play about invisible miracle babies, angels losing their wings, bodily fluids (the gross ones), and a loving relationship at the center of it all. Jacquie Floyd-Priskorn doles out heart and laughs in equal measure (Well, maybe more laughs... an angel mistakenly called Ebola made me burst out laughing). If ever a play warranted a part 2... this is it. I just gotta find out what happens after the close of this one. A blast to read and I'll bet even more fun to see on stage.

An intriguing twist to the "waiting room" setting. What I thought was unique is that we are given points of view that we think are from different perspectives... and they are, but not in the way you are led to believe. Loved the ending!

Things aren't what they seem, and thank God for that in Philip Middleton William's enlightened Cafe (no mark over the accent, thank you). A look at rhetoric on the menu, this short piece turns on a dime when a man on the wrong side of a political discussion lets us in on his true politics and the idea behind his stance on the issues. Couldn't be more timely in this climate. Order up a slice of this one.