Recommended by Enid Cokinos

After reading FRIDGE by Jennifer O’Grady, I have a new appreciation for appliances’ feelings, especially those domestic devices that want to do a good job, but are often on the fritz (I was rooting for “Fridge” the whole time)! It’s easy to see why so many theatres have selected this lighthearted short play.

Life takes unexpected twists and turns, but deep-seated wishes and desires often stay with us. A KISS IS JUST A KISS by Claudia Haas is a touching look at what happens when Eva and Jake finally have the chance fulfill a childhood dream. I like that we are left to wonder what that kiss means for their future.

I love spooky Halloween stories and this short monologue, RATS, by Firen Williams is definitely that. Set in 1872, it was easy to imagine a prim and proper Mrs. Minerva Todd perched at a desk writing this letter "To whomsoever can read,” telling the tale of how she ended up in her current predicament. A fun piece for a Halloween-themed festival.

I had the pleasure of seeing Cole Hunter Dzubak’s play this month during First Run Theatre’s 2023 Spectrum Short Play Festival in St. Louis. The actors were fabulous in their portrayal of job-seekers ranging from recent college graduate to a more “seasoned” employee vying for a job at the same company. This play is loaded with humor and audience members clearly related to these well-written characters and their situations. THIS IS THE 74th COVER LETTER I’VE WRITTEN THIS MONTH PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD HIRE ME is a plus for any short play festival.

MONDAY’S CHILD is an adorable short play with roles perfect for children, although adults playing these parts would be fun, too. Centered around a children’s poem, Rachel Feeny-Williams has included wonderful adult-level humor (and some important life lessons) that will keep audience members of all ages entertained. I would love to see this performed!

Reading MEET ME IN THE ENDIVE brought back memories of my late mother’s love of gardening and sharing the summer’s bounty of fresh vegetables with our neighbors. In only ten pages, Susan Middaugh has perfectly captured the pain of loss, the joy of gardening, and the beginning of a friendship between Midwestern neighbors. A lovely play for the whole family.

John Kelly has penned a poignant play set more than a hundred years in past about three siblings coming to terms with their mother’s recent death. NORTH STAR is a lovely reminder that prayers work wonders.

BABA MIKEY by Christopher Plumridge is a touching monologue that will stay with audiences long after the lights come up…and wishing they had stuffed a few Kleenex into their pockets.

Arthur M. Jolly’s short play THE COPILOT is the perfect reminder that everyone’s path in life is different; the trick is finding what works for you. Sometimes that epiphany hits you at the strangest time, like when you’re perched atop a sign in Yosemite National Park. A heartfelt play with a touching ending.

SHARED CALENDAR by Allan Maule is a treat for audiences of all ages. A young couple loves their technology-packed lives but can’t figure out who put an entry on their shared calendar…or why. A whodunit, of sorts, loaded with wonderful true to life dialogue and humor. Actors will have a lot of fun with these characters.