Recommended by John Busser

Wow, this was the equivalent of listening to the Rocky Theme while running. You can't help but get pumped for what's next! Marj O'Neill-Butler should be a fitness instructor. Her character Wendy is the perfect inspiration for all the Noreen's out there. Not just to improve her health, but more importantly, to find dignity and respect in herself as a person. We could all take a few lessons from Wendy. Another wonderful addition to Marj's series of bench plays. This is my new favorite of the bench bunch.

Wow, this was the equivalent of listening to the Rocky Theme while running. You can't help but get pumped for what's next! Marj O'Neill-Butler should be a fitness instructor. Her character Wendy is the perfect inspiration for all the Noreen's out there. Not just to improve her health, but more importantly, to find dignity and respect in herself as a person. We could all take a few lessons from Wendy. Another wonderful addition to Marj's series of bench plays. This is my new favorite of the bench bunch.

I was so sure I solved this one, but Vivian Lermond outfoxed me again. But who cares? This play was such fun on the page. I'm sure it would be even better on stage (or even over the radio!) The Stillwell Sisters are a worthy addition to great detective fiction and the mysteries she writes are just plain fun. This can be found along with 5 other terrific mystery pieces on the MAD FOR MYSTERY collection published by Next Stage Press. Purchase a copy and enjoy!

I'm a sucker for these type of mystery plays. A murder committed. An obvious suspect. An eccentric detective (in this case, TWO eccentric detectives!) Let the guessing games begin. This play, along with companion piece FRAMED are the two most fun pieces in the MAD FOR MYSTERY collection due to the wonderful writing of the Stillwell Sisters along with the various other characters that inhabit their world. We need more of these sibling snoops.

Oh THIS was devious! Vivian Lermond presents the roommate from Hell (although we don't learn that till the bitter end), and like something from an old EC comic book, I hoped there was just one more page where the killer gets their comeuppance. When you desperately want a fictional character to pay for their misdeeds, that's a sign of fine writing. Give us a sequel play Vivian. Maybe in the next MAD FOR MYSTERY volume?

Things (and neighbors) aren't always what they seem to be. Nowhere is this more evident than in this twisted little play by Vivian Lermond. Troy and Bea are seen by each other, and boy, do they assume a lot... wrongly. But isn't that always the way? A nice change of pace here, is that rather than watch them interact, we get the real inside scoop, as they talk to the audience. This would be wonderful as a radio play and hope that someone out there will stage it. Another winner from the MAD FOR MYSTERY collection.

I read this play a few years back, but as part of her MAD FOR MYSTERY collection, it gave me an opportunity to reread and reassess it. It still hits you like a ton of bricks! The crime committed here has no human entity. It's the dementia that Rosie suffers from. It takes away that which makes us who we are. THAT is the real crime here. This would be amazing to see staged. Great roles for women with a devastating script payoff.

Who better to plot to kill someone, than a group like the ones Vivian Lermond has assembled here? Unrequited love, jealousy, rivalry, baked goods, and scheming writers make for a wonderful mix. And unlike the custard pie, this dessert goes down in a satisfying way. My favorite of Vivian's MAD FOR MYSTERY collection.

For some, a puppet lay may truly be the definition of Hell, but Hell was never this damned funny. Mixing some truly odd character choices for a shot at (what, redemption? Punishment? Who cares, this is inspired "casting") with the last possible choice of plays to do in this southern locale, Scott Sickles blends history and hysteria for a 10 minutes you won't forget. Jesus, this guy can write...

This play will thaw the hardest of souls with a heart-breaking look at a relationship that appears to have ended (even though they had broken up earlier, they still cared deeply for each other) through a catastrophic brain injury that has robbed the victim of his most precious gift, his creative spark. Watching Vaughn try everything he can think of to reignite that spark but ultimately failing was devastating. You want a happy ending here and it just may never happen. The ambiguous ending allows us to imagine that hope still exists, but we may never know. Astonishing and agonizing.