Recommended by John Busser

Matthew Weaver certainly hit the nail on the head with this hilarious play that skewers that rat bastard Elf on the Shelf. Oh, he's had it coming, always ratting us good kids out to Santa. Funny as hell, no line made me laugh harder than "Now they’re launching the Santaverse." This play would be perfect at ANY time of year!

The Devil's in the details, and Nora Louise Syran knows them all. This is an absolute hoot and a half, and Lucifer attempts what us mortals know is its own brand of Hell. From circular logic to the need for a driving test (He is over 75 after all), no area of this absurd premise is un-mined for comedic potential. I would love to see this play produced and I think an audience would have a field day with it.

I can think of a huge section of the populace that needs to watch this play. Of course, I'd have to pull them kicking and screaming away from their TV's to do it. An eye opener for sure, this short by Adam Richter is short, concise, to the point and doesn't overstay it's welcome (which is ironic considering the subject matter, which I feel like will NEVER end). This is a MUCH better way to spend your time AND will leave you more time afterwards to take a walk in the park, hit a new bistro and, well, you know...

WOW! That was a hell of a session, wasn't it? I loved Mike Byham's therapy play for it's humor, it's cleverness and most of all, it's Britishness! Mick and Ernie are two wonderfully realized characters and their squabbling was a delight to read. I bet it would be even more fun to see them go at it onstage. Bobbie is a great counterpoint to them both, driving the scene and getting more out of the boys than I'm sure they planned on sharing. And when Bobbie reveals her own secret motives, it adds another fun layer to the proceedings. Bravo!

This isn't the coffee shop you want, but this IS the coffee shop you deserve. John Servilio serves up a gentle comedy along with a plain cup o Joe (no Latte, half-caf, almond blah blah blah). But maybe there's something else in this play that will help calm your nerves. The characters are fun, the atmosphere congenial, and the writing is hot.

Suprisingly heartfelt and charming. This play by Evan Baughfman screams to be done year round, not just at Christmas. A large cast to be sure, but high schools thrive on that sort of casting. They'd have a blast with this. A fairy tale of sorts, but with Evan's twisted take on events. Just the sort of thing I'd LOVE to see staged.

What a satisfying kick in the pants to all those insipid Hallmark movie romances. The plots are interchangeable, the titles are interchangeable, hell, even the posters are interchangeable. But let's face it, the ACTORS are especially interchangeable. And Joe Swenson knows it. In this funny AF spoof of what must go on when these things are shot, Joe delights us with knowing dialogue, spot on character types and a director that feels about as connected to his work as a landline in the Amazon. This is the kind of Hallmark movie I'D pay to see.

Ah, it wouldn't be Christmas without the age-old question, IS Die hard a Christmas movie? And Rachel Feeny-Williams provides a comical take on trying to find that out, with Maggie and Jeff having a delightfully batty debate on the merits of a multitude of cinematic Christmas films. I always like Rachel's dialogue as it rings so true, yet never sounds run of the mill. And I think practically every audience member would find their argument eminently relatable. Funny, frothy and feisty. And for the record... OF COURSE IT'S A CHRISTMAS MOVIE. Hans Gruber even says so in the movie dialogue.

My takeaways from this are: Whatever theater puts on this wickedly funny play, needs to keep a fully stocked snack area open for the entire evening (including after the show). You'll make a small fortune. The other thing is, try this as a drinking game. Every time Kirsten samples some food, take a drink. Then get someone to fill you in on the last few minutes of the play as you will undoubtedly pass out ahead of time.
This would be a terrific role for an actress with an appetite for comedy.

I was NOT expecting that ending, that's for damned sure (see what I did there?). Lee Lawing not only gives a hell of a title (and there too), but he writes a hilariously devilish (okay, these are coming too easily) play to go with it. A breakup is NEVER easy on either party, but we, as the audience get to rubberneck the carnage with delight. Lee writes with heart too though. His characters aren't just punchlines. There's some real hurt here on display. He makes us invest in these 2 men, which makes that twist all the more... well, hellish.