Recommended by Kim E. Ruyle

Rx is the chilling tale of a group of HS students strung out on drugs. Cassidy, the detached, businesslike dealer of choice, dishes out a wide assortment of pills to her victims who are convinced pills will either take the edge off or give an academic edge. No one is spared the consequences that range from betrayal to death. Debbie Lamedman shows how innocently the slide into drug use can begin. She sets up several striking, surreal scenes as experienced by a student high on pills. This cautionary tale provides a large cast with good roles for mature teens.

Wonderfully natural dialogue as mother and daughter speak around and past each other while exposing an appallingly dysfunctional relationship. The characters are sharply defined. Jean is a tragic figure looking for life in the images and memories of descendants. Lily seems reasonable enough but has been a disappointment to her mother. Lots to chew on here including a conclusion that offers a hint of hope. Terrific!

The Boys Club is first-rate crime drama, well-paced, and driven by well-drawn characters. We know there’s a twist coming – know it from the beginning – but it’s an unexpected, backhanded corkscrew of twist that provides a stunning and satisfying conclusion. This is a great two-hander.

Oh my, God! This is brilliant. At times, everyone (except self-deluded sociopaths, I suppose) feels insecure. When Tim is sent through an INsecurity scanner as part of his job interview, he abandons everything but his boxers in order to pass the test. This play is not only hilarious, it’s an insightful look at the human condition. I’m not pulling your leg… I’m pulling mine! Love it!

Some people tolerate change better than others. Everyone has a different lens through which they view change. And everyone has a different threshold, a tipping point where even the most adaptable person feels change goes from invigorating to threatening. David Patton shows us what change looks like through the lens of a disabled firefighter in a Celtic (?) fire brigade. My facility with dialects sucks, but from my reading, the presentation of dialect in the script is spot on. This monologue represents a great opportunity for the actor to provide a unique perspective on his job. Excellent...

What a heart-wrenching lament! Such agony! Such loss! And then, such a twist! This monologue hits all the right notes and provides the actor with a wonderful range of emotions. David Patton, I feel your pain. Love it!

Vivian Lermond is the prolific and masterful creator of short plays that refresh and invigorate like a brisk walk or a spot of tea. She’s done it again with Framed, the newest addition to her MAD FOR MYSTERY Collection. Jump in the car with the charming Stillwell sisters and go along for the ride. Navigate the English countryside, look for clues in a disheveled cottage, and investigate in a “jumble shop” – all in the pursuit of a murderer and to find justice for their client. This is a wonderful radio play.

Jane Pierot is no Hercule Poirot (though she does insist on pronouncing her name as Poirot). With an inexplicably dogged determination, this Sherlock Holmes wannabe comes through in the end. Quirky characters (Sandra, especially, is a hoot). Snappy dialogue. A great premise. All-in-all, a really fun detective caper!

A precocious young lady uses science and logic and chutzpah to cure a plague, undermine a tyrannical government, and strike a blow against ignorance. Set in a mythical kingdom several centuries past, this well-written parable speaks to the importance of independent thought. Great!

And Lightning Struck is the amazing story of Mary Shelley’s early life and the creation of Victor Frankenstein and his “monster.” Weibezahl weaves a rich tapestry in the theatrical telling of the story. The vivid language reveals the depth of Shelley’s suffering, her personal tragedies, and the brightness of her genius. It’s a poignant, heart-wrenching story. Her bond with the Creature is palpable and complex. After reading this play, you will never regard Frankenstein’s monster in the same way.