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John Patrick Bray

Recommended by John Patrick Bray

  • Good Boy? by Rachel Feeny-Williams
    9 Apr. 2021
    “ I love dogs. I love actors playing dogs almost as much as I love dogs. In this comedy, poor Greg has to match wits with Twinkle, a dog who confides in us that he is very much the master of his domain. Without giving away too much (I love where this play goes), Twinkle proves to us that he can outwit any man in order to make sure Jenny can be his and only his. This is a fantastic three-character play that would provide a lot of fun for three actors - especially the one who gets to play Twinkle! ”
  • The Mother of God Visits Hell by Daniel Guyton
    9 Apr. 2021
    “ I had the privilege of hosting a reading of this fantastic play a few years back. As others have mentioned it is Shakespearean in scope, has wonderful word play and excellent monologue choices for actors. On top of that, Dan Guyton has one of the most vivid (and at times, twisted) imaginations out there, but he never goes off the rails; he is successful in threading the needle, never losing focus of the plot while bringing all of these characters to (new) life. Highly recommended! ”
  • Pee Hot, or The St. Agnes Fiasco by Jarred Corona
    9 Apr. 2021
    “ If Oscar Wilde, with his rapier wit, and Captain Beefheart, with his post-Dada sense of word play, were to have a baby, I am convinced they would write this play. It was so much fun to read. The pacing is excellent, the puns land, and a number of the lines will tickle, delight, or take you a beat to think about - like a joke grenade; pull the pin and wait 1-2-3-ha! Highly recommended for those who love absurdism. ”
  • SUGAR PIE by Vivian Lermond
    9 Apr. 2021
    “ I love this world of story. I used to be a car-swap driver, and ended up spending a lot of time in diners and truck stops asking for directions and getting a kick out of the local conversations coming from the booths and tables. It feels like this piece of Americana is all-but-forgotten, and yet it remains as vital as ever thanks to plays such as SUGAR PIE, a real slice-of-life that leaves you wanting to spend more time with these two people and the world in which they inhabit. ”
  • V-DAY (from the TAPAS COLLECTION) by Vivian Lermond
    9 Apr. 2021
    “ A sweet slice of life about a marriage that is coasting on fumes, V-Day reminds us when the only thing on the menu is fried bologna, it’s time to spice things up with champagne. (Plus, I’m a sucker for anything that references Lou Reed.) ”
  • Delete by Jacquelyn Floyd-Priskorn
    8 Apr. 2021
    “ Not many people can create a fully realized world and distinct characters in under eight pages; Jacquelyn Floyd-Priskorn does not suffer from this problem. Using a platform many can understand (those long conversations with a person in IT when we are desperately trying to retrieve an important file from our computer which only gives us the BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH), Floyd-Priskorn unpacks gun violence(s) in a remarkably nuanced, theatrical, and heart-breaking way. I happened to listen to Dan Reeder's "Maybe" after reading this play; if I were directing it, that's how I'd close this thoughtful piece. ”
  • Masque of the Macabre by Reinette LeJeune
    5 Apr. 2021
    “ A delicious blend of theatre of the absurd, Punch and Judy, Victorian Music Hall, farce, and tragedy. Have you ever read a play and thought "dang, I wish I had written this?" That's exactly the way I felt about Masque of the Macabre - from its deceptively playful opening moments, to the final consequences, which echo the strongest moments in Sartre and Beckett (IMHO). I highly recommend this piece to those who love genre-blending theatricality with a sly wink, and a meditation on existential futility. ”
  • Mystery Date by Kate Danley
    5 Apr. 2021
    “ A very funny play about the dangers/horrors of bringing home a new potential romantic partner to meet the parents. Plus, anything featuring the particular type of mystery date in this play will always have my full attention (trying not to give away any spoilers here). ”
  • Fable by Doug DeVita
    5 Apr. 2021
    “ Fable is so gorgeously theatrical; I love the framing of the piece which mirrors the content so well. It's a story of someone who is barely a footnote in theatre history, and that is a damn shame. It's at turns hilarious and heartbreaking; the closing moments resonate deeply. This play features excellent roles for women over forty and presents exciting design opportunities. ”
  • Chewie, Get Us Out of Here by Philip Middleton Williams
    4 Apr. 2021
    “ Have you ever tried to look up something to watch on Netflix or Amazon Prime? You know you're in the mood for a certain genre, but you're having trouble deciding which program you truly desire to watch right this minute? Yeah, same here. Thank goodness for Chewie, Get us Out of Here! which has it all! This is a wonderful example of Geek Theatre, loaded with SciFi and Fantasy references (and a nods to Lewis Carroll as well). As another reader said, "this did my nerdy heart good." Same, fellow nerd. Same. To quote Nine, "Fantastic!" ”

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