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Maximillian Gill

Recommended by Maximillian Gill

  • WONDER OF OUR STAGE by Monica Cross
    19 Mar. 2020
    “ At first I appreciated the fresh take on the "who wrote Shakespeare's plays genre," but Cross has done something much more interesting. The automaton at the heart of this piece serves as a means of exploring the nature of theatrical representation itself and what we are really trying to do when we write drama and poetry. The reflections on love and its expressions are some of the most interesting I have encountered in a while. I also have to comment on Cross's ease with the dialogue, which sounds convincingly Elizabethan but never stilted or awkward. A major achievement overall. ”
  • The Fallow Garden by Scott Sickles
    19 Mar. 2020
    “ The artfully wrought dialogue is such a pleasure to read and easily sucks you into this Gothic-inflected thriller. It would be a true joy to hear actresses with the right sensibility embody these characters because I could just listen to the tea talk for a very long time! Their banter and some truly inventive stagecraft keep you hooked all the way to an ending that feels both unexpected and well prepared for. A fine short piece from a writer who seems to be able to do anything. ”
  • ON ROBOTS AND RAINDROPS by Monica Cross
    19 Mar. 2020
    “ Cross has taken on quite a challenge with a two-hander in which one character barely strays from a few prepackaged phrases, but what the writer does with this simple premise is astonishing. After a variety of comic beats familiar to anyone who has ever been frustrated with an electronic device (in other words, everyone), the play goes to a place of beauty and loss that absolutely took my breath away. The close is both unexpected and perfect. Read this compelling piece now, before it becomes our reality! ”
  • Tall Tales by River Timms
    18 Mar. 2020
    “ I am astonished how some writers have a unique ability to create instantly engaging characters. From page one I felt completely comfortable with the characters in this piece, and Timms pulls that off effortlessly with completely direct, simple dialogue. If I am in from the beginning, I'm in for the whole ride. And yet, just when you get comfortable with the characters, the play takes you to some very unexpected places. No spoilers, but I am impressed at how easily the writer integrates the more unusual elements into the realistic world of the play. Bold and expertly accomplished. ”
  • Copper Angel by Emily McClain
    18 Mar. 2020
    “ In theory, we all know the human cost of war and we know that it is not reflected in statistics but in personal testimony and, in my opinion, great art. Through this poetic and gripping play, McClain forces us to confront the terrible realities of the First World War. We go on a harrowing journey with the protagonist, a person from a privileged background who is immersed in the horrors of the trenches but refuses to let them defeat her or the soldiers she commits to. The monologues are shattering, each one a compelling piece on its own. Powerful writing. ”
  • Closedbook by Kelly McBurnette-Andronicos
    17 Mar. 2020
    “ One of the most original takes on the social media phenomenon I've read in a while! Vividly funny, with some very unlikely characters in even more unlikely situations, yet McBurnette-Andronicos pulls it off. Behind it all a sharp satire that suggests that artificial intelligence could end up manifesting more humanity than the real thing, something we should all start thinking about. ”
  • PARANORMAL LOVE by Jennifer O'Grady
    17 Mar. 2020
    “ First, great characters, each one distinctive and fully realized, many of them particularly hilarious. The use of ghosts functions as an elegant metaphor of the human need to hold onto the past and the people that represent it. At its heart it’s a sweet love story about two people having difficulty finding their places in the world. The occasional monologues are used strategically to illuminate characters and sparkle with lovely imagery. A fine piece overall. ”
  • Snug Harbor (10 min.) by Robin Rice
    16 Mar. 2020
    “ An evocative little portrait of people trying to reach each other, failing, and still trying. Our two characters don't seem to belong, but at the same time they seem to carry the weight of a city with all of its frenzy and beauty and desperate humanity. Their connection is unexpected, poignant, and expertly rendered through Rice's assured writing. ”
  • All Together Now by Philip Middleton Williams
    16 Mar. 2020
    “ The piece begins with a situation that could be as easily played for laughs as for drama, yet Williams skillfully manages to have it both ways, sometimes in the same line of dialogue. In the course of the story we see both the fragility and the resiliency of the extended family. The inciting incident is a seemingly offhand visit with ripples that force everyone to confront issues long buried and ultimately find the strength to create deeper bonds. Williams's ability to portray complex family dynamics with such elegance and simplicity is absolutely masterful. ”
  • INERTIA by Rachael Carnes
    15 Mar. 2020
    “ How can you not fall in love with Minky? I saw a wonderful production of Carnes's short piece at a festival of unusual takes on love. This one explores a love that is indeed very odd, but what is startling is how human and poignant the connection between these two mismatched characters really is. The play takes us on a hilarious journey but leaves us with a lovely sense of loss. Great opportunity for an actor who is really ready to feel their inner sock puppet. ”

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