All Our Pretty Songs by
Sabrina's trying to "enjoy" some microwaved casserole when she receives two unexpected guests: a wave of violent sadness and Jeanine, the absolute last person Sabrina wants to see.
Christopher Shultz
Christopher Shultz
Christopher Shultz writes plays and fiction. His works have appeared at The Inkwell Theatre's Playwrights' Night, and in Pseudopod, Unnerving Magazine, and Apex Magazine, among other places. He has also contributed columns on books and film at LitReactor, The Cinematropolis, Ranker, Cultured Vultures and Tor.com. Christopher currently lives in Oklahoma City.
Recommended by Christopher Shultz
- HOWLING: a fairy tale by4 Jan. 2023“ As much a long poem as a play, Jordan Elizabeth Henry's dark fairytale is something to be appreciated and absorbed on a literary level. But it's also pulsing with drama and theatrical potential, its evocative sparseness allowing directors and designers to dream up their own, unique interpretations of the text. It's a brilliant depiction of the Autistic experience, particularly for Autistic women, whose sensations and needs are so often diminished, and who are all too frequently survivors of abuse. An excellent and moving piece all around. ”
- Tipping by14 Nov. 2022“ A wonderful, relatively simple premise conveyed with a complexity of emotion and insight into human interaction. This play contains one of the best descriptions of depression I’ve ever come across (the “waves” metaphor expressed by the “Sadsack”). The flexibility of Blevins’s characters concerning race and gender is a welcome aspect of the script as well, allowing any actors to take on these terrific roles. ”
- Down Cellar by25 May. 2022“ There’s a story somewhere about the making of ‘Halloween’ (1978), how the plot is akin to someone slowly stretching a rubber band until it becomes so tense it pops. Jordan Elizabeth Henry achieved this same effect wonderfully with ‘Down Cellar.’ The suspense in this piece is sometimes too much to bear, but it culminates in a satisfying and macabre conclusion that, without giving too much away, would make the old horror masters smile. ”
- Extravagant Toast by29 Jan. 2022“ It feels cliché to call something heartfelt, but that is the best word to describe this work. The interplay between the two characters is delightful, and demonstrates how one person can truly be there for someone they love, even when they don’t fully understand why their loved one is upset (at least at first). Conflict arises not from hate or a fundamental division of beliefs, but rather from a simple misunderstanding. Resolution comes not from a permanent rift but from compassion and creativity. This is a beautiful play of coming together, of one person uplifting another. Highly recommended reading. ”