Recommended by John Busser

Who hasn't found themselves in the Darkness from time to time? A human condition, unfortunately that isn't always easy to get out of. But luckily for us, we've got Jacquie Floyd-Priskorn as a guide here to shed some twisted and funny light on the situation. Despite the heavy burden Olivia is carrying into the shop with her, she gets some much needed perspective (and a throw pillow, so, win-win) from Flurk and Ramiform, two goofy denizens of this weird shopping district. Jacquie puts enough love and humor into the play to make this a worthwhile shopping excursion.

Good writing brings the words to life to a reader. Great writing brings the characters to life, and in THIS case, they ain't going back to the page. Rachel Feeny-Williams is always up to giving her audience that extra oomph! when it comes to her plays. A terrific romp through the creative process and how characters can take on their own agendas if given half a chance. I'd love to see this staged, but make sure the characters don't get carried away (literally in Jenna-may's case) and come back for the curtain call.

Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend found the loophole in that Disney Classic and ran with it for all it's worth. He DIDN'T learn his lesson, did he? Well, thanks to Lisa, he has another incredibly funny chance to do so. And this Beast/Old Woman banter is terrific. Who needs a candlestick or teapot for comic relief? And the optional casting choices for the 3 versions of the Adam-Beast character could be a hell of a lot of fun to play with. Would love to see this staged.

Everybody could use a support system, am I right? Greg Burdick must think so. He certainly shows the importance of one as we go down the chain (The last 2 characters are my favorites). A costumers dream (or nightmare depending on how elaborate you want to get), I think this would be a howl to stage. Literally. And with it, hopefully, comes a little understanding of the burdens we all carry and how help from some unusual places isn't such a bad thing.

It's at the end when you'd expect the Crypt-Keeper or some other ghoulish horror host to pop in, say something like "Mandy thought she could perfectly justify her non-guilty feelings, but SCRATCH THAT!" and end with some high-pitched laughter. Robin Rice gives us a wonderful monologue about guilt, betrayal and a nagging itch that just won't go away. Well, unless you dig for it...

Darkly humorous, Irish as the day is long, and twisted in only the best ways, this short piece sheds some light on how quickly fortunes can change and it does it with style, a devilish twist and just plain old fun-to-listen-to Irish wit. Almost coming across like a joke you'd hear tell at a bar, I think an audience would fall under Kevin O'Brien's storytelling spell in a heartbeat.

Jacquie Floyd has a way of pulling at your heartstrings like nobody's business. Reading the interaction between Bernie and Leif, watching them compromise on the location of a birdbath that would be aesthetically pleasing, yet serve as a way to honor a beloved late pet cat, is just wonderful. So many homeless people feel as though they are invisible to society. And Leif making the attempt to not only respect Bernie's wishes, but make sure that he respects his original intent to help his friend Em. Leif is a special character we're all lucky to know.

Some people want to be problem solvers. Some people just want to be the problem. Or at least WANT there to be a problem. Em is just such a person. I don't think Em is going to want to hear anything from Drew, no matter how well intentioned. Jacquie Floyd wants to entertain, and THAT is at the root of this play. She does that in this charming little play about environmentalism and seeing the forest for the tree that isn't there. As for the last character, Leif? Well, they just want a bird bath, and that can solve anything.

I was stunned after reading this play, which is a scream of anger couched in the acceptance of being perpetually looked down upon for the crime of having a body which society says is bad. The irony here is that this is a woman, tragically realized by Bess Welden, who is made to feel she has empty value even as there is more and more of her around. This is not lost on BMTT as she puts on one vaudville-styled act after another, each increasing the level of embarrassment on herself and by the audience.

I was so taken with the three nurses here portrayed as so human. With drives, ambitions, little flaws and faults. They seem like real people to us. And the work they do is fraught with potential heartbreak, never knowing who will or won't survive under their care. When a bit of luck enters the picture, you just aren't expecting a next page hammer blow that hits home in a frightening way. Life can turn on a dime, and Vince Gatton ably proves this. This play is hopeful and harrowing at the same time. So much done with so little. Bravo.