Recommended by Jack Levine

REX MCGREGOR’s “Ebook Meets Treebook”, is a clever and witty ‘meeting” of two types of books, one found online and the other found in libraries. I enjoyed reading this ten-minute play. It’s a fun satire.

HOPE CAMPBELL GUNDLAH’s full-length play, “The H Twins”, is in a word: Gripping. There is no way you can look away, forget, or ignore this powerful play. I am a student of history, and I was so engrossed in this gem from beginning to end. Bravo, Hope! I recommend this play. I so want to see it performed.

MATHEW GREEN knows how to keep your attention, raise the tension, and surprise you with a twist at the end. “Quiet Tonight” will keep you guessing. It will keep your interest. I enjoyed the ride, bumpy or not. I recommend this play.

CHRISTOPHER PLUMRIDGE’s monologue. “Layla’s Lilies”, will certainly grab your heart as everyone has endured, or will endure, the loss of a loved one. This monologue is beautifully written with heart and compassion. You can feel the high emotion, expressed in words, but felt deep down in his soul.

HOPE CAMPBELL GUNDLAH’s short play, “The Word”, has a very meaningful message: Elementary-school girls are not old enough to comprehend sexual assault. “Grape” is perhaps a metaphor for hiding, diverting, the sad truth: Too many girls are harassed, degraded by sexual assault, and they are left to ‘figure out on their own’ what to do if and when it happens to them.

NORA LOUISE SYRAN’s monologue, “I am the Center of My Universe”, is thought provoking. We know the Universe is vast, expanding, and changing. Stars eventually die and explode. New stars are born. We also change. We grow; we learn. We are but a small entity in the Universe, but within our own space and time, we are our own world.

NORA LOUISE SYRAN’s monologue, “I’ll decide When I’m Being Ghosted, Thank You Very Much”, is poetic, sublime, and prophetic. There are so many thoughts and emotions that we experience when someone close to you leaves and can never return. What did we say that we wish wasn’t said? What did we not say that needs to be said?

NORA LOUISE SYRAN’s monologue, “Drop the ball”, is right on the ball, so to speak. You shouldn’t let yourself be burden with ‘stuff’ if it isn’t in your interest to do so. Drop the unnecessary burdens and strive to be yourself.

NORA LOUISE SYRAN in her short play, “37 Origami Bees”, beautifully encapsulates the feelings of a child who has lost a friend. It’s part of the growing up process to learn to connect, communicate, care about others. But, as we do, our feelings can be ‘crushed’. This is a beautiful piece to read.

JULLIAN BLEVINS’ short play, “Last Call”, is a surreal comedy, but you will laugh out loud at the absurdity of what in fact are some truths. I loved the interplay of switching seats, the insights of the bartender, and a satisfying ending. I recommend this play be read and produced with the two other short ‘bar plays’.