Recommended by Morey Norkin

In A Kreutzer Sonata, Larry Rinkel has crafted an extraordinary composition. Not a musical nor simply a play with music, but a play that flows like a beautiful symphony, where themes are carried across movements, each with its own tempo and dynamics. Rinkel skillfully orchestrates plot lines related to family, faith, cultural identity, and acceptance with completely engaging characters. What a wonderful evening of theater can be achieved in the hands of the right director/conductor!

In Speed Dating in Paradise, Vivian Lermond’s clever take on the goings on in the Garden of Eden, Adam’s roommate, Luce, decides the young fellow needs to hit the dating scene after his breakup (fall) from Grace. After one strikeout in Paradise, enter Eve. She’s into snakes but not apples, He’s an environmentalist. They are both interested in kids, or at least the production process. A match made in…? Even John Milton would have to laugh out loud!

Given her impressive background in English literature, it is not surprising that Marcia Eppich-Harris’s “The Profession” is brimming with the stuff of great literature: morality vs. self-preservation, ambition, finding purpose in our lives, all put together in a strong story with fully developed characters. Eppich-Harris explores these themes while revealing the disheartening state of higher education. I wish I had a professor like Dr. Hardy (or Dr. Eppich-Harris) when I took Shakespeare and Milton as an undergrad.

Ripped from the headlines, as they say, and a situation that is becoming more frighteningly possible. A middle-aged couple wakes up to learn that their Hawaii vacation, and everything they know could be ended by an incoming ballistic missile. Marcia Eppich-Harris has put two fairly ordinary characters in an extraordinary situation. Farewells are recorded, confessions made, and oops! Now what? Plenty of tension and comic interludes fill this ten-minute triumph.

What a charming telling of the classic poem along with a brief history of its origins and how Santa is recognized around the world. Kudos to Jolly for encouraging presenters to add to the Santa folklore or include stories of other celebrations. Destined to become a holiday classic!

I have to agree with Sam Beckett’s assessment: this is a play I might have written if I had Mr. Bonafede’s level of talent. Or at least I wish I had written! As promised, Bruce Bonafede delivers the answers to our questions about Godot while also delivering a ton of laughs. “Ton of laughs.” Is that expression too old? I also have to agree with David Mamet, who said of this play, “I mean… fuck.” And I mean that in the best possible way!

Imagine having your life the subject of two sports play-by-play announcers up in the booth! In Rachel Feeny-Williams’ hands, the results are filled with laughs. The commentary as football (soccer!) fanatic Matt awkwardly addresses his feelings towards new roomie Jenny is priceless. To sum up this play in a word: Goooaaallll!!!!

I love Sam Heyman’s irreverent sense of humor! All of the other God students dropped out, with some going into community theater! I think I’ve known a few! Turns out God(s) also have to face mortality and it’s enough to drive a Supreme Being to drink. Clever, funny, and well worth a read and production.

While I have your attention, Guide Me rounds out Paul Smith’s London apartment trilogy. His witty, often biting, dialogue is as present here as in the other two. Here we have a love triangle with two of the parties essentially trying to force a resolution on the shared party. There are no good options, and Smith, wisely does not try to deliver a neat and tidy ending. Instead, we’re left with a feeling of despair for these characters. This trilogy will make for a wonderful evening of theatre.

After reading Isaac, one in a trilogy of portrait-inspired plays by Paul Smith, I was excited to jump into the other two. So glad I did! In Happiness, Smith presents three siblings sharing fond childhood memories after other guests have departed a gathering at the same London apartment featured in all three plays. The nature of that gathering becomes clear at the end and may leave you, as it did me, stunned but also going back to truly appreciate the masterful construction of this play!