Recommended by Jack Levine

DEBRA A. COLE’s ten-minute play, “An Idle Mind is the Devil’s Playground”, is a fun piece with a twist or two that will have an audience laughing out loud. This is an interesting take on the need for retirees not to get bored. The Devil also finds out that life has its interesting turns.

SCOTT SICKLES is truly a brilliant playwright. “Nonsense and Beauty” is a magnificent play, one which will touch your heart, fill you with joy and sadness, and take your breath away. The beauty of a rose, the touch of your lover, the emotions of sharing but yet not having it all to yourself, are in this work of art. Thank you, Scott, for all of your great plays, but at the moment, I LOVE this play. BRAVO!

Oh, I liked this 1-Minute piece! This little gem captures an endearing, sentimental, and laugh out loud exchange between mother and son in one page of dialogue. “Hookie” by Hilary Bluestein-Lyons is a winner!

ROBERT LEBLANC’s “Mister Frank”, was witty, quirky, and fun to read. I never was lucky enough to have a fast-talking substitute, but I did enjoy the experience, as I read this five-minute comedy short.

WILLIAM J. GOODWIN’s “Candyland”, provides the reader/audience with some interesting food for thought: How should one protect their family?; should a drunk get a pass for inappropriate behavior when he is seeking to reconcile with his estranged girlfriend? Is gun control something we want as a society? I have my own thoughts and opinions, but I will let others read this play and decide for themselves.

DANIELLE WIRSANSKY’s “Sitting Still”, is a beautifully written play in which the indignities towards women are on full display. I found this play compelling, as a reminder of the sheer stupidity of men, in the time period of this play, refusing to see women as equals. It’s sad but so true. As a history buff, I thoroughly enjoyed this work of substance. The ending was not expected, but I did find it to be gripping.

CHRISTOPHER PLUMRIDGE’s monologue, “The Weak Link In The Chain”, raises so many thought provoking questions centered on abuse. The emotional trauma is so like being chained to an immovable object, and as a result, the victim is kept in-place, so to speak, and unfortunately keeps receiving unfair and unrelenting horrific treatment.

DANIEL PRILLAMAN has the formula for writing a play with gusto, weirdness, and fantasy, which leaves us with a wonderful feeling of pure joy. “The Furniture Story” is truly a romp through an ‘Alice In Wonderland’ madcap, hilarious, witty adventure. I have put in my order for sugar candy chairs, lollipop tables, and an assortment of chocolate knickknacks. You might want to do the same, but first read this fun play.

ROBERT WEIBEZAHL takes us to a place where we, as playwrights, have been too often: Fear of rejection, fear of being unable to write, fear of being afraid. But, in the end, we find a way - at least we try and hope - to finish our play and have it read and liked. “R/ELECT” had me thinking, “this is so true!” Let’s agree that it’s hard to be a writer, but the journey is well worth the effort. I enjoyed reading this!

RACHEL CARNES had my head spinning, laughing out loud, and wondering if sanity had left the universe. “Binders” is a sci-fi parody with a crew of what-can-you-say out-of-wack weird altogether wonderfully absurd characters. I love comedy and the actors in this play will have a grand time performing as the audience laughs from beginning to end. Fun and more fun!