Recommended by Kim E. Ruyle

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.

Highly theatrical, pitch-perfect detective noir with a kick-ass dish of a PI. Great fun.

Triangle Logic is an engaging exploration of friendship, loyalty, sex, jealousy, and more. Lamedman gives us three distinct characters, each flawed but nonetheless lovable in their own way. This thought-provoking play will cause you to consider the nature and permanence of friendships in your own life. Excellent!

It’s not just an itch. It’s malignant, a searing sun around which poor Richard revolves. And it’s not only Richard who’s sucked into the orbit. His mom, his brother, and an intriguing tenant are also pulled in. From this premise, Cathro has masterfully created a compelling drama that sucked me in, too. The relationships are fascinating: mother-son, brother-brother, and especially Richard-Gail. I didn’t want this to end. Highly recommended!

George Burns famously said, “Sincerity - if you can fake that, you've got it made.” On the stage, the best actors excel at faking it, at faking sincerity, at faking confidence. But the façade quickly cracks, as Greg Hatfield clearly shows, when fading stars are off the stage and jockeying with their peers for a career-reviving role. The rivalry. Insecurities. One upmanship. Bitterness. Dissembling. All is exposed. Nicely done!

The Rot is a tongue-in-cheek, laugh-out-loud family dramedy playing out in the suburbs – suburbs which are infested with zombies. In this case, the zombies don’t seem to be anything more than highly annoying and very stinky. But that’s enough to screw up the barbecue hosted by Blair and Art for in-laws. Funny and creative, The Rot is full of life!

Rachel Feeny-Williams has written a really funny play about an intimate dinner party that goes wrong. Or does it? I was reminded of Ayckbourn – delicate and tricky relationships, confused identities, doors, miscues, and more. This play is sure to be a crowd pleaser!

Simon thought he had it bad working for Phil as an entertainment reporter in an unpaid internship. But he’s about to discover fresh hell in the service of Jean-Paul and to learn a couple of lessons the hard way: 1) always read the contract, and 2) things aren’t always what they seem. In turn, comical, sexy, and tragic, Body and Soul takes us on an interesting journey that ends in an unexpected twist.