Recommended by John Busser

  • John Busser: In Case You Open Your Eyes Again (a monologue)

    I cannot recommend this beautiful, tender conversation highly enough. And despite being a monologue, there is definitely a conversation going on here. Multiple ones. I am amazed that there are layers of guilt, happiness, regret, frustration, anger all in this 1 page confession / plea for understanding that Scott has written. Sickles puts more feeling into one page of dialogue than some others can muster in a full length. I am in awe.

    I cannot recommend this beautiful, tender conversation highly enough. And despite being a monologue, there is definitely a conversation going on here. Multiple ones. I am amazed that there are layers of guilt, happiness, regret, frustration, anger all in this 1 page confession / plea for understanding that Scott has written. Sickles puts more feeling into one page of dialogue than some others can muster in a full length. I am in awe.

  • John Busser: To the Class of Miskatonic University 2022

    All good monologues keep you wanting more and this corker by Christopher Soucy is no exception. Keeping just enough of the all-too-real "gory details" hidden, Shelby's speech to the surviving class of 22 is ripe for expansion. I want to hear more (possibly from the other survivors) Just terrific writing!

    All good monologues keep you wanting more and this corker by Christopher Soucy is no exception. Keeping just enough of the all-too-real "gory details" hidden, Shelby's speech to the surviving class of 22 is ripe for expansion. I want to hear more (possibly from the other survivors) Just terrific writing!

  • John Busser: Iron Justice

    Art imitating life or vice-versa? The characters here are people playing characters based on possibly(?) real events in their lives is so meta, it can make your head spin. But Cody Goulder pulls it all together in a wry, funny look using the noir detective tropes to perfection. Even as Gal threatens to upend everything, Dick pulls her back in just as Cody pulls the audience in. Fun stuff!

    Art imitating life or vice-versa? The characters here are people playing characters based on possibly(?) real events in their lives is so meta, it can make your head spin. But Cody Goulder pulls it all together in a wry, funny look using the noir detective tropes to perfection. Even as Gal threatens to upend everything, Dick pulls her back in just as Cody pulls the audience in. Fun stuff!

  • John Busser: WE RIDE AT DAWN! (a monologue)

    Children really are the most amazing wordsmiths, aren't they. Rules of grammar, syntax and phonetics, be damned, the way Mill speaks to us about his upcoming campaign to avenge a terrible wrong, is so... right in his intent and misusage. I would speak like that were I in his footie pajamas and that's the charm of Scott Sickles work. He puts us right there in the drivers seat by making his characters sound just like us. We all could have let it go if it weren't for the damned M & M's.

    Children really are the most amazing wordsmiths, aren't they. Rules of grammar, syntax and phonetics, be damned, the way Mill speaks to us about his upcoming campaign to avenge a terrible wrong, is so... right in his intent and misusage. I would speak like that were I in his footie pajamas and that's the charm of Scott Sickles work. He puts us right there in the drivers seat by making his characters sound just like us. We all could have let it go if it weren't for the damned M & M's.

  • John Busser: The Wedding Recessional I Imagine My Parents Had in 1971 (2 minutes)

    A lot can happen in 2 minutes. A lifetime of upcoming bliss vs. a lifetime of eternal regret and the wedding that binds them together. Marcia Eppich-Harris needs to write a two minute followup on the reception. Then another on the wedding night. And so on, and so on.

    A lot can happen in 2 minutes. A lifetime of upcoming bliss vs. a lifetime of eternal regret and the wedding that binds them together. Marcia Eppich-Harris needs to write a two minute followup on the reception. Then another on the wedding night. And so on, and so on.

  • John Busser: TO FETCH A PAIL OF WATER

    I love reading a play when I have no idea where it's going, and this one pleasantly surprised me. Jack and Jill, trying to live beyond what the song says encounter someone who just might be able to help them do that, in a somewhat unorthodox way. The ending was also unexpected, and I won't spoil it, but needless to say, like in the best fairy tales and nursery rhymes, a happy ending was had by all. Well, maybe not all, but at least the important ones did.

    I love reading a play when I have no idea where it's going, and this one pleasantly surprised me. Jack and Jill, trying to live beyond what the song says encounter someone who just might be able to help them do that, in a somewhat unorthodox way. The ending was also unexpected, and I won't spoil it, but needless to say, like in the best fairy tales and nursery rhymes, a happy ending was had by all. Well, maybe not all, but at least the important ones did.

  • John Busser: Intermission

    Many times we couch what we say in metaphor and example instead of coming out and just saying what we really want. Joe Bardin's characters show this so perfectly, as we (the audience) watch 2 people talk about the play they're watching, the people in the lobby, anything but what is really on their minds. And yet they, and we, know exactly what is going on. That's good writing.

    Many times we couch what we say in metaphor and example instead of coming out and just saying what we really want. Joe Bardin's characters show this so perfectly, as we (the audience) watch 2 people talk about the play they're watching, the people in the lobby, anything but what is really on their minds. And yet they, and we, know exactly what is going on. That's good writing.

  • John Busser: Charlie and Stan

    A thoughtful, elegant and touching look at how we perceive ourselves and our place in the world, by two individuals who look at things from different perspectives. One approaches by looking forward, the other, looking back. Through their interaction they come to an understanding. The dialogue is wonderfully realized and I would totally believe the two DID have a conversation like this on a trip to America, the land of opportunity... and comedy.

    A thoughtful, elegant and touching look at how we perceive ourselves and our place in the world, by two individuals who look at things from different perspectives. One approaches by looking forward, the other, looking back. Through their interaction they come to an understanding. The dialogue is wonderfully realized and I would totally believe the two DID have a conversation like this on a trip to America, the land of opportunity... and comedy.

  • John Busser: Conversation Starter

    Edie is a reminder that there are ways of dealing with certain kinds of men, and then there are better ways of dealing with them. The last line alone makes this play a must see.

    Edie is a reminder that there are ways of dealing with certain kinds of men, and then there are better ways of dealing with them. The last line alone makes this play a must see.

  • John Busser: COME

    A short play as disturbing as the cursed tape that haunts the children of this high school. A rising tide of horror that can't be stopped plays with the comparison to the pubescent rage of hormones these kids are also trying to deal with. Really well done.

    A short play as disturbing as the cursed tape that haunts the children of this high school. A rising tide of horror that can't be stopped plays with the comparison to the pubescent rage of hormones these kids are also trying to deal with. Really well done.