Recommended by Kim E. Ruyle

A chilling act is murder at a wedding reception. A cool mystery is Martineau’s play, A Cool Reception. Viable suspects with compelling motives abound, and there’s at least one red herring thrown in. The Romanian private investigator, Madame Zugravescu, steals with show with her highly creative interrogation techniques that include yoga, needlepoint, even dancing the tango! A Cool Reception will have you guessing right up to the end, Who Done It?

Fertile Ground is absolutely gut-wrenching. Jennifer O’Grady masterfully sets up the dominoes, and they fall with precision as the play unfolds. The multi-dimensioned characters are flawed, but we care about each one and can’t help but be horrified by the tragedy of this tale but left with a sliver of hope, a beam of light and life in the end. Truly fantastic writing.

Watch out! John Busser’s autocorrect has taken over and left me reeling, doozy with the aunties of the enemas of the pants. Fifty Shades of Grayskull is hilary juice! No jock!

Yikes! Lee R. Lawing has created a scary future in which the evil Hallmark Corporation has taken over much of the world and brainwashed and neutered their adherents, including the Smiths. Fortunately, not everyone has bought into the deception, and when two strangers show up, they give, Jenny, the Smith daughter, an opportunity to find real redemption. You’ll be rooting for Jenny from her opening lines and cheering at her escape. Great!

From the stunning first scene to the unpredictable, satisfying conclusion, The Death of Me is a thoroughly engaging mystery. The premise is wonderfully creative, and the setting adds an ominous aura. The distinctive characters are well drawn, and each contributes to the mystery that will keep audiences in suspense until the final curtain. Brilliant!

Chris Plumridge serves up an irreverent, hilarious, and theatrical short play that features the adorable Janet and Malcolm. Those treated to the intimate peek into their bedroom will find themselves in stitches. Loved this!

What playwright doesn’t struggle with stage directions? We want to create a world that exists in our minds and to provide enough specificity so that directors and actors understand our vision. On the other hand, we know some directors are going to completely ignore our directions. In Busser’s hilarious and inventive play, the stage directions become the animated director run amok. It’s uproarious, unpredictable, and a blast for actors and audience alike. Now, pretend to be eaten by wolves! Bravo!

Julie Zaffarano’s Kentucky Lemonade is the ideal blend of sweetness and tartness, just like its namesake. What a wonderful opportunity for four mature female actors. Perfect pacing. Sparking dialogue. Riveting conflict. And Dorothy’s malapropisms had me laughing out loud. Terrific!

A Hawaiian vacation goes comically awry for Stanley and Renee, and no better for Sal and Roger, a gay couple planning Hawaiian nuptials. From baggage claim to hang gliding, Stanley and Sal bond while trying to figure out why their life partners are having second thoughts about their relationships. Sal provides most of the comic relief, only topped by the arrival of his mother, “Fancy Skirt Nelson.” The comedy reaches a fever pitch when laced brownies are thrown into the mix. In the end, Maui Wowee! introduces thought-provoking notions about love and marriage. A wild romp!

What a riot! The tremendously creative Jacquie Floyd-Priskorn juggles the antics of her characters and immersive theatre with aplomb. What great fun for actors and audience alike. The improv is brilliant, and the frenetic pace, slapstick humor, and all-around theatrics make this play a winner! Morning Cheers!