Recommended by Rand Higbee

  • Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia
    20 Feb. 2024
    Erin Dietsche's "Hexa..." play (don't make me write out the whole thing!) concerns two elderly woman and their concerns for their small town's well-being. Those concerns might seem a bit nutty at first, but upon further thought they are also completely logical. One can easily see how such a situation could, and likely would, arise. The play comes complete with an O'Henry ending that will bring a big smile to your face.
  • How The Owl Gained Her Wisdom
    19 Feb. 2024
    Having written a few folk tale plays myself, I was curious to find out all about owls and wisdom. Zach Barr tells this tale in an unconventional way. The dialogue is sparse and the play relies greatly upon narration. Yet Barr's device works well here. We jump ahead of the owl and figure out the reason why the human he follows behaves as he does, but watching the owl catch up gives the play its emotional impact. I would love to see this one staged.
  • Doors
    18 Feb. 2024
    Annie Considine's "Doors" is a short mystery/horror play. Things start off mysteriously and only get more mysterious as we move on. Some questions are answered but the answers only lead to more questions. The fact that by the end I was wanting to read a scene 2 shows that the play hits its mark. I will have to read more of this playwright's work.
  • Minding Miss Mae Mae
    17 Feb. 2024
    Miss Mae Mae is an elderly paraplegic. Barabara is her caretaker and friend. Barabara's actor son Jordan comes home for a visit while batting addiction demons. Together the two women use some unconventional and rather homespun methods in an attempt to straighten Jordan out. Philiip Christian Smith's script may be 108 pages long, but it reads more quickly than you expect because it is full of short, snappy dialogue. It is funny throughout despite the fact that Smith is tackling some serious issues. I would love to see this one on stage.
  • Adam and Eve
    16 Feb. 2024
    Okay, the story of Adam and Eve has been told before, but never quite like this. As soon as God says "Oh, my Self!" I was hooked. Zonia Tsang has a quirky sense of humor and it is on full display here. Will they or won't they eat that apple? We all know the answer, but the journey there is both fun and insightful.
  • Buckle
    13 Feb. 2024
    Two high school girls break into a teacher's classroom late at night to find a copy of the test they soon much take. But things don't proceed quite the way you expect. Bray leaves you wondering what happened just before between these two and what will happen next. This is a good opportunity for two younger actresses.
  • Chem Class
    10 Feb. 2024
    High schooler Alex decides to ask his best friend Sofia to the prom. Oh, but this prom proposal is not quite what it seems and it does not go the direction you're thinking. This is my first encounter with a play by Jennifer O'Grady and I am curious to read more.
  • GULF (working title)
    10 Feb. 2024
    This is my first encounter with one of Miranda's works, and I am intrigued to read more. I say that Ellis definitely should definitely get on that plane and go! The choice Ellis faces may seem at first to be that simple, but it is not. There are layers here about how one seemingly simple choice comes with so many implications.
  • Watercolors
    10 Feb. 2024
    I was lucky to catch a Zoom reading of this play and I would really like to see a full production. Mr. Williams has written an emotional play about art and love. But more than that, it is about potential, both fulfilled and unfulfilled protentional, and it's about those youthful dreams we all have. What might a person give up his dreams for?
  • To The Moon!
    8 Feb. 2024
    This is my first encounter with a play by Lisa Dellegiarino Feriend. Having written a few sci-fi type plays myself, the title caught my attention. What harm is there in telling a little white lie on the first date? Don't we all do it? Unfortunately, a little white lie backfires spectacularly on poor Joe. A quick, fun little piece that would work well in any 10-minute festival.

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