Recommended by John Busser

  • John Busser: Exit Strategy

    Tom Moran's Exit Strategy is an extremely funny take on the lengths some will go to when avoiding a breakup. I laughed several times watching Sean, the protagonist take his lumps from the women he always fails to understand. They zig when he zags and vise versa. And to have the tables turned on him in the last matchup was perfection. I would love to see this produced.

    By the way... "If they had a bin full of dented wine, you’d be all over it." may be one of my favorite lines, ever.

    Tom Moran's Exit Strategy is an extremely funny take on the lengths some will go to when avoiding a breakup. I laughed several times watching Sean, the protagonist take his lumps from the women he always fails to understand. They zig when he zags and vise versa. And to have the tables turned on him in the last matchup was perfection. I would love to see this produced.

    By the way... "If they had a bin full of dented wine, you’d be all over it." may be one of my favorite lines, ever.

  • John Busser: TWO MEN SHARE A BENCH WITH A NICE LADY (a 10 minute comedy)

    You always get something extra in plays from Marj O'Neill-Butler. In this case you get an extra character. Not content to have a meet-cute between a man and a woman on a park bench, she has a pair of men (in this case, brothers) meet the woman on said bench. The words fly fast. So fast, in fact, that the men tend to complete each other's thoughts. It's delightful and lends some flair to the proceedings. These three look like they will be very good for each other in the long run. Maybe a revisit is in order sometime soon.

    You always get something extra in plays from Marj O'Neill-Butler. In this case you get an extra character. Not content to have a meet-cute between a man and a woman on a park bench, she has a pair of men (in this case, brothers) meet the woman on said bench. The words fly fast. So fast, in fact, that the men tend to complete each other's thoughts. It's delightful and lends some flair to the proceedings. These three look like they will be very good for each other in the long run. Maybe a revisit is in order sometime soon.

  • John Busser: The Wrinkle Ranch (from the THE WRINKLE RANCH AND OTHER PLAYS ABOUT GROWING OLD collection)

    This was a blast from first page to last. Deb Cole proves there's life in these old gals and does it in a most provocative way. I have to admit, I'm probably too old to know what some of those Sex Scrabble words are, but now my curiosity is piqued. A wonderful showcase for older actresses who will, no doubt, bend over backwards (and forwards and sideways) to make the most of these roles.

    This was a blast from first page to last. Deb Cole proves there's life in these old gals and does it in a most provocative way. I have to admit, I'm probably too old to know what some of those Sex Scrabble words are, but now my curiosity is piqued. A wonderful showcase for older actresses who will, no doubt, bend over backwards (and forwards and sideways) to make the most of these roles.

  • John Busser: Nice Girl from Indiana (MONOLOGUE)

    Peter Fenton has hit a nerve here. How many of us feel like we are being pre-judged unfairly. Lindsay is one such person and it hurts. She doesn't regret things. But still, she resents the feeling that no matter her accomplishments, people will still only see her one way. And boy, does THAT resonate. I think this is a terrific monologue for an actress, as the best ones allow you to tap into your own life experiences. And in a way, I think we've ALL been in Lindsay's head at one point or another.

    Peter Fenton has hit a nerve here. How many of us feel like we are being pre-judged unfairly. Lindsay is one such person and it hurts. She doesn't regret things. But still, she resents the feeling that no matter her accomplishments, people will still only see her one way. And boy, does THAT resonate. I think this is a terrific monologue for an actress, as the best ones allow you to tap into your own life experiences. And in a way, I think we've ALL been in Lindsay's head at one point or another.

  • John Busser: A Minute Past Midnight on Valentine's Day, or, the Untold Truth about Romantics [a 1-minute play]

    Jesus, that hurt to read. The kind of heartbreak that Steve Martin shows here seems too honest and raw not to have some basis in real life. And it hurts more in it's relevancy. Show me someone who hasn't been on both sides of this equation; someone who hasn't had to hurt (or be hurt) because of true feelings being shown, but I'll bet you can't. Steve has held a really unflattering mirror up to us all.

    Jesus, that hurt to read. The kind of heartbreak that Steve Martin shows here seems too honest and raw not to have some basis in real life. And it hurts more in it's relevancy. Show me someone who hasn't been on both sides of this equation; someone who hasn't had to hurt (or be hurt) because of true feelings being shown, but I'll bet you can't. Steve has held a really unflattering mirror up to us all.

  • John Busser: Snow Job

    Jack has to bring the right kind of heat to his discussion with the Snow Queen about both their interpersonal relationship and their job security. A fun premise and a welcome play with sweet characters from Christopher Kidder-Mostrom.

    Jack has to bring the right kind of heat to his discussion with the Snow Queen about both their interpersonal relationship and their job security. A fun premise and a welcome play with sweet characters from Christopher Kidder-Mostrom.

  • John Busser: Red Wine (MONOLOGUE)

    A terrific little monologue that had me laugh out loud at the last line. Peter Fenton speaks true here in his play when he has his main character here, Teresa, relate the all too real circumstances that drove her transformation into what she is today, but he tinges the sad with some genuinely funny humorous sarcasm. This would be a wonderful monologue to perform for any actress.

    A terrific little monologue that had me laugh out loud at the last line. Peter Fenton speaks true here in his play when he has his main character here, Teresa, relate the all too real circumstances that drove her transformation into what she is today, but he tinges the sad with some genuinely funny humorous sarcasm. This would be a wonderful monologue to perform for any actress.

  • John Busser: That's Amore: A 10 Minute Werewolf Play

    There's all kinds of transformations going on here in Zoe Rose Jennings short, funny werewolf piece. The clock is ticking for Mike in more ways than one here, and the audience is probably wondering (based on the title) when Mike will go all hairy. Surprise then, when we see Monica getting the full moon fidgets instead. This was really a hoot to read and I'll bet it plays even better acted out.

    There's all kinds of transformations going on here in Zoe Rose Jennings short, funny werewolf piece. The clock is ticking for Mike in more ways than one here, and the audience is probably wondering (based on the title) when Mike will go all hairy. Surprise then, when we see Monica getting the full moon fidgets instead. This was really a hoot to read and I'll bet it plays even better acted out.

  • John Busser: Smile, Baby

    Oh man, wouldn't we all love to see someone like Jake get his comeuppance in this way. The entitlement he has, telling Maura she doesn't dress that way for work, but for his to admire, is so spot-on in it's depiction, you can't wait for her to get back at him. Luckily, as it's a one minute play, you don't have to wait long. Very satisfying.

    Oh man, wouldn't we all love to see someone like Jake get his comeuppance in this way. The entitlement he has, telling Maura she doesn't dress that way for work, but for his to admire, is so spot-on in it's depiction, you can't wait for her to get back at him. Luckily, as it's a one minute play, you don't have to wait long. Very satisfying.

  • John Busser: Space Laser, In Space!

    Wow! Come for the laughs, stay for the nail-biting examination of one's responsibility to oneself, one's religion, and one's culture. Any comedy that can serve up humor with this much food for thought is well worth your time. And that ending? Oh Mama, talk about a cliff hanger. I'd love to see an audience react to this one, if only for the post-show musings over what they THINK the characters did at ...1.
    Jill Blevins certainly gives you a lot of bang for your buck.

    Wow! Come for the laughs, stay for the nail-biting examination of one's responsibility to oneself, one's religion, and one's culture. Any comedy that can serve up humor with this much food for thought is well worth your time. And that ending? Oh Mama, talk about a cliff hanger. I'd love to see an audience react to this one, if only for the post-show musings over what they THINK the characters did at ...1.
    Jill Blevins certainly gives you a lot of bang for your buck.