Recommended by Kim E. Ruyle

The memorialization of a tragedy brings three family members together at a Colorado rest stop to grieve, share regrets, and consider what if. Fucking Ice is sad without being maudlin. It’s touching, poignant, and worthy of staged performances. Well done.

Commercial Row is a splashy British crime noir. It’s all here – sleazy, hard-boiled criminals specializing in financial crimes, femme fatales, an amiable bartender, even hard candy sweets. Commercial Row delivers lots of action, lots of intrigue, and lots of entertainment.

How far will obsession drive a person? n Rinkel’s play, the obsessed Anton Klimkowsky gives us a good idea. With the audience chuckling and Jason scratching his head, one has to ask the question: Is anything ever truly perfect? The Reinhart Beethoven Third Concerto is a solid ten-minute comedy.

Pity the furniture and especially the pets in the Jackie and Sam household. In just a couple of minutes, Baker paints a picture of klutziness. Funny stuff!

Out of the woods is a beautiful love story woven with threads of Greek mythology and a generous sprinkling of apropos literary references. Weibezahl gives us likable, well-drawn characters, engaging dialogue, and nuggets of wisdom. What can you say about a play that balances emotions with intellect in such an entertaining way? I say, terrific.

The Equestrian keeps you guessing from the opening encounter between Danielle, presumably the owner of a special horse, and Sarah, presumably a prospective buyer. Soltero-Brown has a way with dialogue that deepens the mystery as the women talk to, around, and past each other. When a third voice from the phone joins in, the mystery escalates. I’d love to see how this plays out on the stage. The Equestrian presents an intriguing puzzle and great opportunities for actors.

Two down-to-earth people meet in a laundromat and find a connection. Mandy and Jim both demonstrate vulnerability but also manage to show some courage. Over laundry soap, tabloid stories, and shoe soles, their stories unfold and come together in a sweet, hopeful conclusion. Well done.

This is brilliant! The opening set up is fantastic. Paul’s response to being asked how he was is priceless. Throughout, just as an engagement ring drops from a glove, the gems of dialogue drop repeatedly. I would love to see this staged. So much fun and terrific twist at the end. Highly recommended.

A Primitive Species is a thought-provoking story about differences and similarities. Through the meeting of four well-drawn characters, Rachel Feeny-Williams poses questions, some directly, and some suggested. To what extent are genders equivalent, even identical? To what extent are they distinctly different? Anatomy? Physical capabilities? In Personality? Brain Chemistry? And to what extent can these things be modified. I love that through an entertaining story, we have a lot on which to chew.

In a bar, Mike deals with his angst by downing shots. But when Sara serves something else, it strikes a chord in Mike. In just a few words, Sara delivers a lesson. It’s a good lesson, an important lesson. Does it matter who delivers the instruction? That’s the question raised in Christopher Soucy’s excellent short play. Terrific!