Recommended by Morey Norkin

If this is the way the world ends, then I’m glad John Busser is writing the script. At least we know there will be plenty of laughs on the way out. Some possibly broken commandments and terrific word play give this play its edgy humor. I was waiting for a “hanging Chad” reference and was not disappointed. No matter your beliefs, you better believe this is one you don’t want to miss.

How can something so brief feel so terrifying? All I know is if I were in the audience I’d have a hard time not standing up and shouting at the father, “Don’t go!” A welcome and haunting addition to the 37 Origami Bees collection.

Wilma brings the weather forecast and a lot more in this courageous monologue. Hopefully the men in the audience, or really anyone into body shaming, will get Wilma’s message loud and clear and take it to heart. Give’em hell, Wilma!

A completely original bar mitzvah story presented in unique fashion, especially if presented by a lone actor. A bar or bat mitzvah can be a stressful event for any 13-year-old. Add in trouble between parents and maybe it’s not so surprising the Torah was dropped. Audrey Lang offers a clever and thoughtful look at religious ritual and family relationships and a tour de force for an actor looking to play seven characters. I would love to see that happen.

This future look at the excessive lifestyle of the top 0.1 percent is totally believable. As we watch a couple who have spent a fortune to have dinner while orbiting the Earth, we see just how out of touch with the lives of regular people they are. The final monologue by the down-to-earth server is the perfect icing on the cake. Excellent!

I’m certainly not going to risk criticizing this play now that I know some of the murderous scenarios Dan West is capable of concocting. Fortunately, there’s no need for criticism of such an offbeat hilarious take on the creative process. As much fun as this was to read, there’s so much happening in this play that really must be experienced in performance. Stage it if you dare!

Absolutely hilarious! Ava Love Hanna provides an absurd look at a marriage with some serious communication issues. I’m still imagining what this will look like when it’s fully produced. Please let that happen!

A whale of a tale indeed. Ava Love Hanna takes a sharp satirical look at the patriarchy by narrowing its scope to the confines of an airplane cockpit and the inside of a whale. Many laugh out loud moments and a fitting tribute to a flight shared by Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt, two women who soared to amazing heights despite the ever present men’s club. I would love to see this staged with all its crazy potential.

If you could visit your younger self, would you simply reassure them and pass on some sage advice? Or would your very existence alter the path they follow? And if you’re young, would you want to see your future self? These questions and more are what come to mind after reading this highly entertaining and thought provoking short piece. However you answer any of these questions, I absolutely recommend you follow the final two pieces of wisdom. No matter your age, you will certainly enjoy this one.

Like a perfectly layered lasagna, this short play is skillfully layered with warm humor and heartbreaking grief. Food is central to the father and daughter dealing with the loss of their wife/mother. For one it’s abundance. For the other it’s avoidance. Chris Plumridge has done a masterful job of capturing the struggle to move on from loss. Fully baked and ready to be served to an audience.