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Maximillian Gill

Recommended by Maximillian Gill

  • Marvin by Lainie Vansant
    14 Feb. 2020
    “ Had me at aliens! But seriously, I read so many plays that I find it so refreshing to come across a piece that reminds us what theatre is all about at its most fundamental: the human imagination and the worlds we contain. The characters and the characters they become are all delightful and convincingly rendered, and the play overall is just a loving tribute to an age of boundless creativity. If only we could all conjure aliens out of yogurt. ”
  • The Blushing Groom by Matthew Weaver
    14 Feb. 2020
    “ What begins as a comic romp about one person trying to get another person into bed turns, methodically and surprisingly, into a philosophical piece about what we expect from love, sex, and from another person when the first two concepts are in play. It reminds me of "Ma nuit chez Maud" or some of Eric Rohmer's other "moral tales." Engaging and witty, a delight to read. ”
  • Cooler Near the Lake by Philip Middleton Williams
    12 Feb. 2020
    “ A lovely and engaging chamber piece poking at the strict divisions of class and gender orientation that permeate our culture. The characters are so specific and wonderfully rendered that we are immediately invested in their stories. As the party goes on and the scotch flows, secrets come out as they inevitably do, and I was along for the ride the whole time. I also can't fail to mention how funny the play is and how some of the best moments of wit come out at unexpected moments. ”
  • Hard Cell by Brent Askari
    11 Feb. 2020
    “ Askari's timely play skewers the stereotypes of Middle Eastern people while being very funny and sharply written. I particularly like that even the most reactionary characters in the play have dimension and are trying to do the right thing, even though they are completely clueless in all sorts of humorous ways. Thus, Askari's approach is hard-hitting but never abrasive, always acknowledging everyone's basic humanity. Very impressive! ”
  • Unfocused by Jean Koppen
    10 Feb. 2020
    “ An all-too-timely satire on the foibles of politics and everyone who is embroiled in them as well as everyone who tries to avoid them. Koppen's play is consistently funny but also startlingly perceptive. The characters are broad and comic but definitely ring true. Most impressive of all, the targets of the piece are not any particular ideology but rather voter apathy and the ways we all allow ourselves to be manipulated even as we believe we our taking our destinies into our own hands. Impressive work! ”
  • Adventures of the Lotus Brothers by Pampi D
    9 Feb. 2020
    “ While fully recognizing that this piece is still a work in progress, I can already tell that it is going to be an incredible play. My own heritage is Indian and I have been hoping to find a playwright who is bold of vision and adept in craft who is willing to fully commit to mining a rich tradition of folktales that stretches back thousands of years. Pampi D's work has contemporary resonances, is vital and poetic, and I hope to see its finished form. ”
  • A Ship of Strong Timber by Isaac Rathbone
    7 Feb. 2020
    “ A snappy sci-fi chiller that examines the psychology of people willing to be launched into outer space for lengthy missions and proves that the human mind can be far more fascinating than science and technology. The reveal in Rathbone's deftly written piece sneaks up on you and sticks with you. ”
  • Element 109 by Erin Moughon
    5 Feb. 2020
    “ I am ashamed to confess I never heard of Lise Meitner until this play opened my eyes. Moughon's play brings Meitner alive and gives her a voice that resonates with a love of science and a devotion to peace. I also like the parallel with a modern scientist, which unfortunately highlights that so many things just haven't changed since 1943. An important and enlightening piece. ”
  • CHARLIE: A SCHOOL JANITOR MONOLOGUE by Asher Wyndham
    3 Feb. 2020
    “ A beautiful piece that sneaks up on you. Maybe I had an idea of where it was going in the opening, but I was so wrong and so affected by where it eventually ended up. I also applaud Wyndham's insistence on representation in casting. ”
  • CANOPY by Rachael Carnes
    3 Feb. 2020
    “ I am impressed by how much meaning Carnes derives from seemingly simple conversations and everyday gestures of living as a couple. And the use of "alternate" versions of the characters adds a fascinating layer to this play that I am enjoying contemplating. Do these other characters represent our dreams or more authentic selves? Or are they just emblematic of the roles we all play, seemingly changeable even as we revel in our distinctiveness? A wonderful read and something that would take on more resonance on stage. ”

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