Recommended by Jack Levine

KIM E. RUYLE lets us hear and watch a conversation in which an emerging playwright explains how he listens, observes, and creates. Thalia, the owner of a fancy B&B, wants to be noticed and recognized. In “Thalia’s B&B”, we are fully engaged in the conversation until a surprising, yet predictable if we thought about it, ending. This play provides some great roles for actors. Audiences will enjoy it.

ELISABETH GIFFIN SPECKMAN’s “Icebox - Monologue” speaks about loneliness and isolation. We are prone to want and need companionship. There are times when space and time are desirable and necessary. But, when we have no idea how long we will be by ourselves, our yearnings for contact intensify. This short piece does an excellent job in portraying this deeply held trait.

LARRY RINKEL’s short play, “Peas in the Fried Rice”, is witty, charming, and fun to read. I would love to see this play performed onstage. There is a rhythm to the familiarity of longtime friends when their put downs are rebuffed and on and on they go on with their banter. The play had me laughing out loud. Bravo!

PHILIP MIDDLETON WILLIAMS’s play is so beautiful in meaningful ways: a reveal of a son being gay without any blowback; a boy’s protective nature for his brother; and a father’s acceptance without any judgement. “Blind No. 7” is another brilliant work of a great playwright.

SCOTT SICKLES has created a short play of well-developed characters with a compelling plot. There are so many layers in this short play, yet it all ties together in a wonderful ending...which could be the beginning of another play. “Winter on the Cusp of Sagittarius” is thought provoking. I really love this play!

EMILY MCCLAIN’s play tells of the questions we may still have of our parents, but cannot ask them because they have died. Our parents can, and do, leave a strong emotional impact on our lives for better or worst. Sometimes their secrets and actions can haunt us. Half-brothers Bryan and Charlie have their emotional scars, and they also have a last-wish of their mother to fulfill. “Ashes to Ashes” gives the brothers a chance to ‘let go and move-on’. The dialogue is well-written. This is a wonderful play.

DC CATHRO’s play really hit the mark for me. Two gay men have a conversation, which clearly shows their prejudice toward someone who is handicapped. But their roommate overhears them, and in a beautiful monologue, he expresses his love for the person his roommates so harshly disparage. His roommates quickly learn - or at least we hope they do - that “Damaged” applies to them for their prejudices and not to someone, who has physical shortcomings. Bravo!

ADAM RICHTER writes a most compelling short play with monologues by five immigrants. There is so much to love about “Second Home: Five Stories of Immigration”. We are a nation of immigrants, who came to our country and made valuable contributions. We need to hear their stories, embrace their value to our society, and recognize we are a better country.

STEVEN G. MARTIN sets up and delivers a beautiful one-minute play of the ‘comfortable-ness’ of a couple. There are precious moments in our lives - seemly insignificant at the time - but so loving, comfortable, and memorable, not for some spectacular feat but for their place in a close and loving relationship. “Win and Tim and the Unlikelihood of Living Forever (A 1-Minute Play)” will touch your romantic soul.

ANDREW MARTINEAU’s play examines social bias in a clever dramatization. The interviewees’ responses to the same questions all seem inline with what you might expect. But the last interview reveals what the researchers were really trying to find out (or perhaps, as I suspect, what they already knew). “One Fifty” is a fun play to watch and has a satisfying ending.