Recommended by Tom Moran

  • Tom Moran: Time Travelers Can Apply Yesterday by John Busser
    “

    More confusing than "Tenet" and much funnier. Busser's head-spinning premise leads to a play that is hilariously befuddling, and it's a hoot to be along for the ride.

    More confusing than "Tenet" and much funnier. Busser's head-spinning premise leads to a play that is hilariously befuddling, and it's a hoot to be along for the ride.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: The Dieting of Anne Frank: An Autocorrected Play by John Busser
    “

    A bizarre and fascinating concept carried to hilarious fruition. I'd be intrigued to see it staged.

    A bizarre and fascinating concept carried to hilarious fruition. I'd be intrigued to see it staged.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: Elvis is Dead - Saving the world takes time. by James Hutchison
    “

    A fun time-travel romp with some solid laugh lines, not to mention a testament to the eternal usefulness of librarians.

    A fun time-travel romp with some solid laugh lines, not to mention a testament to the eternal usefulness of librarians.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: Skid Marks by Dawson Moore
    “

    A poignant piece about the things we say when we're too scared to get to the point. It's a poignant, spot-on piece with great buildup, some very fluid and often very funny dialogue ("just drink your salsa and go" is a favorite), and a level-jumping twist at the end that feels inevitable in retrospect, as the best twists do.

    A poignant piece about the things we say when we're too scared to get to the point. It's a poignant, spot-on piece with great buildup, some very fluid and often very funny dialogue ("just drink your salsa and go" is a favorite), and a level-jumping twist at the end that feels inevitable in retrospect, as the best twists do.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: How to Be a Widow by Tori Keenan-Zelt
    “

    A candid, concise look at self-actualization through the eyes of two Civil War widows fumbling for their identities. The language is all very modern, making for an interesting mix of period mores and current lingo suggesting a place out of time. A funny, insightful and ultimately very satisfying 17 pages.

    A candid, concise look at self-actualization through the eyes of two Civil War widows fumbling for their identities. The language is all very modern, making for an interesting mix of period mores and current lingo suggesting a place out of time. A funny, insightful and ultimately very satisfying 17 pages.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: Hotter Than Thoreau by Julie Zaffarano
    “

    A charming little piece about two men whose Grinder date goes off in an unexpected direction. A winning combination of sexy and sentimental, with some funny lines and bawdy repartee wrapped in a warm fuzzy. Also perfectly titled.

    A charming little piece about two men whose Grinder date goes off in an unexpected direction. A winning combination of sexy and sentimental, with some funny lines and bawdy repartee wrapped in a warm fuzzy. Also perfectly titled.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: The Roommate by Dominica Plummer
    “

    A timely and trenchant take on our current catastrophe, it's a Seventh Seal (or maybe Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey) for our time. Good and ominous fun, with gradual revelation of detail and a clever ending.

    A timely and trenchant take on our current catastrophe, it's a Seventh Seal (or maybe Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey) for our time. Good and ominous fun, with gradual revelation of detail and a clever ending.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: ALL BARK, NO BITE by Kara Emily Krantz
    “

    A sweet, charming romp that succeeds on the basis of witty character humor underlying a richly realized conceit. The human story is compelling, but it's the dynamic between the two dogs that really pushes "All Bark, No Bite" over the top: Eugene's aloof intellectualism is consistently hilarious (and reminds me more than a little of my own dog) while Bella perfectly encapsulates the flighty charm of the younger canine set. My only disappointment is in knowing what the schtick is before reading, and thus not getting the chance to figure out Eugene's identity for myself.

    A sweet, charming romp that succeeds on the basis of witty character humor underlying a richly realized conceit. The human story is compelling, but it's the dynamic between the two dogs that really pushes "All Bark, No Bite" over the top: Eugene's aloof intellectualism is consistently hilarious (and reminds me more than a little of my own dog) while Bella perfectly encapsulates the flighty charm of the younger canine set. My only disappointment is in knowing what the schtick is before reading, and thus not getting the chance to figure out Eugene's identity for myself.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: Reptilians by Eric Moore
    “

    A well-structured, naturalistic piece that builds up to a fun and unexpected twist at the end.

    A well-structured, naturalistic piece that builds up to a fun and unexpected twist at the end.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: It's an Espresso Drink with Foamy Steamed Milk by Steven G. Martin
    “

    Self-absorption reaches its logical extreme in this two-minute ditty about the end of the world. What will it take to drag some people off of their phones and out of their solipsistic bubbles? As the play wittily posits, absolutely nothing.

    Self-absorption reaches its logical extreme in this two-minute ditty about the end of the world. What will it take to drag some people off of their phones and out of their solipsistic bubbles? As the play wittily posits, absolutely nothing.

    ”