Recommended by John Busser

The cruelest cut of all is when we cut ourselves off from our friends and family when we need them the most. After a devastating loss, Philip has done just that. And thanks to writer Brenton Kniess, Philip has an unexpected ally or 2 to fix that injustice. When his puppets sit up (sans hand up the ass, mind you) and proceed to pull him back from the hole of despair he'd thrown himself in, you realize that Philip is doing the necessary work on his psyche. He finds the spark he'd needed thanks to Ace and Loopy. Uplifting fun.

While a hard subject matter is on display here, I like that Marilyn Ollett shows us a character, Edie who has made up her mind to go out in her own way. Not content to carry on in a place where she feels life is just passing her by, she opts to be with loved ones, even as we realize her ultimate plan of action. Ollett doesn't trivialize Edie's end-of-life choice, but adds a gentle humor to it, making her journey not something to be feared, but looked forward to. This is wonderful writing about a heartbreaking decision.

Stephen King meets Red Shoe Diaries at the Olive Garden is a horrifying concept when you think about it. Daniel Prillaman has obviously thought about it. This simple story becomes an existential horror when a deal too good to be true (or Hell of a Deal as the play puts it) turns out to be just that. As cringey as the thought of eternity in a restaurant eating nothing but bread is (okay, there IS some other eating going on, but I don't want to spoil that) makes this one eatery missing a boatload of Michelin stars. Foodie fun!

I wonder if this is what it will eventually come down to? Clandestine meetings with coded passwords in order to defy a totalitarian trending government. This is the sort of thing for spies and agents with licenses to kill, not school teachers and policemen. Philip Middleton Williams may have hit on a forward look into our future with this play. There's a gentle humor presiding over some very real threats to our liberties. It helps make this scary concept much easier to swallow. This is smart stuff.

I knew where it was going and it STILL creeped me out. That's some effective writing right there. George Sapio ups the unsettling factor by having characters speak in somewhat circular terms about what they want. And it ALMOST worked out badly for one burly cop. Luckily, by keeping his head, he kept his head so to speak. This would be wonderful for a night of ghostly short plays.

As a former usher for 2 different movie theaters, I can say unequivocally that Brenton Kniess has captured the shenanigans of movie theater employees perfectly. This fun romp of a one act shows how your movie theater family supports your dreams even while you don't want to leave their popcorn-grease stained embrace. The characters here are all perfectly realized and the creative way they try to convince Ben to follow his dreams is both sweet and oh-so-appropriate for him. I really enjoyed this play.

I absolutely loved this piece. I'm a sucker for clever wordplay, and the body corporate structure represented here just tickled me to no end. Poor Brian just wasn't thinking, was he? And now his most important labor force has gone on strike. Marilyn Ollett has written a winner here. I would absolutely love to see this staged because of its clever premise and wonderful wording.

To say I was taken aback by that ending is an understatement. A powerful (and terrifying) testament of a mother's love for a son she lost tragically. And it wasn't just an accident that represents the tragedy. A father who couldn't accept a son who only wanted his love. There are so many fascinating family dynamics on display here. Marilyn Ollett has crafted something special with this play and I can only hope it receives multiple productions. This play vividly shows the consequences of non-acceptance and the domino of agony it leaves in it's wake.

Who doesn't love the idea of time travel? Of being able to go back and possibly correct a mistake, right a wrong, fix something broken, turn a negative into a positive. We've all wondered about it. BUT... what if you could... and it didn't fix? What hell that would be. And Brenton Kniess illustrates this concept brilliantly in a family drama with a nightmare fate coming their way, and no amount of time can change it. This terrific play both entertains and horrifies you. A piece that needs to be produced.

What I love about this play is that the characters are done wasting time they could put to better use. Jeff risks rejection by trying to reestablish a relationship with Judy, but he does it anyway (his medical condition leaving him not much time). Judy, for her part has decided to skip the early courtship roles and go right into the thick of a relationship. And Peggy? Well, she got the whole ball rolling, didn't she? All these characters are vital, active people you'll want to get to know. This is terrific writing. Another winner from Marj O'Neill-Butler.