Recommended by Kim E. Ruyle

The artist, Edvard Munch said, “Without anxiety and illness I should have been like a ship without a rudder.” In Maximalista, Peterson leads us through Davi’s tortured, mostly rudder-less world, the result of mental illness. This play is highly theatrical, and Davi’s language is, at times, poetical. The support she continues to receive from her family in spite of her bizarre behavior is heart-rending, and I was most taken with Davi’s relationship with Violet, her daughter. Well done.

In Silver, Tennant exposes the open psychological wounds created by a school shooting. This is a stunning work written by someone who’s felt the pain and doesn’t spare us from the agony and horror shared by Leo, a high school student, and Chris, his schoolteacher father. Silver is all the more remarkable because it was written when Tennant was 14 years old, and her experience in dealing with trauma gives her words tremendous weight. Brava!

The opening weekend of deer hunting season is a big deal in Wisconsin, and it’s a turning point in the relationships for Tim and Keith and Trina, three young adults. Sheehy sets the story in Wisconsin and provides lots of local color. Supporting characters – mother, stepdad, uncle, and a boss – provide homespun and wise counsel for the three central characters who deal with swirling emotions around an impending marriage. Opening Weekend explores love, faithfulness, friendship, and the pursuit of happiness.

I’m not familiar with the book from which this play was adapted – now I’d like to read it. In any case, Vansant’s play has comic machinations reminiscent of a Shakespearean comedy (replete with deception and disguises} blended with a British slamming doors farce. With a Temptation, A Way of Escape is fast-paced and has lots of physical comedy, but it also hits on some serious issues related to love, loyalty, and religious dogma.

Hang onto your seat. Ian Donley takes the audience on a wild ride complete with car crashes as Brandon, Caroline, and Player (playing many characters) careen through dream sequences and some deep discussions on religion, grief, family, friends, Dungeons and Dragons, and more. They’re even able to squeeze in some libidinous behavior. As an alumnus of both Oregon State and University of Wisconsin, I loved the references to Benny and Bucky.

Retail Therapy packs a punch. The wonderfully fierce language is borne of the brutal work conditions Woman endures. What a terrific role to play. There’s vitality to this play. It’s theatrical, immersive, and tells a complete story as well as – better than! – many much longer plays. Highly recommended.

True Will is brilliantly imaginative, a treasure trove of Easter eggs for aficionados of Ian Fleming, Noel Coward, WW2 history, yoga, the occult, and more. Triplett is a true craftsman – his script is intelligent, engaging, fast paced, and populated with delightful characters who deliver one clever line after another. Highly recommended.

In Earl from Greenville, Darrin Friedman introduces us to three deeply flawed characters who are the center of their own universe, a universe stuck in time and mired in prejudice. Is it hopeless to think that maybe, just maybe, the more enlightened souls in their orbit can change the trajectory of Earl, Gary, and Beatrice? Seems unlikely, but perhaps we’re left with just a glimmer of hope when Maurice asks for another beer.

I love the idea of bundling short plays (a la David Ives, All in the Timing) to give theatres the option of creating a customized theatrical event by mixing and matching short plays. In The Five Stages, Brenton Kniess serves up a diverse selection of shorts - distinct stories, distinct characters, and thought provoking to boot.

Destruction or therapy? A pink piece of canvas… How much damage can it wreak on a friendship? How much healing? Unlike the white canvas creating conflict among three male friends in Yasmina Reza’s “Art,” Tom Erb changes hue, flips genders and creates an all-out battle between Ginny, Carol, and Flo. These are meaty roles for three mature female actors.