Recommended by Robin Rice

We think we're so much smarter than our ancestors with our high-tech onslaught of instant information. This look at 21st Century political debates turns the camera sharply back around and focuses on us. Funny, but oh so true!

Nothing like turning a spotlight on an icon so that unexpected warts, pimples, and unholy urges jump out and have you rolling on the floor! A refreshing drink in the desert of strained political correctness we are tip-toeing through these days.

In a nutshell (or one minute) this is why I love Scott Sickles' plays. Wrap together horror, ridiculousness, discovery, gentleness, weirdness, and love in one big, satisfying ball and this is it. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Bingo. Bazinga. Nailed it. I'm left thinking beyond the immediate situation- a sure sign that a play works.

Boom! That's it. Now do it and shut up or go away. So many of us are feeling this way -- over it, done with the stupidity. Thanks for saying it, Dunne.

What happens in a popular gentleman's club on a Friday night is... well... kind of... sort of... shitty. Definitely shitty. And a whole lot of words that also mean shitty, but in a very good way (possible if you're Scott Sickles). When the characters include a chef named Pepe le Poisson you know you're in for a wild ride of off-the-wall and way-outside-the-box happenings. You'd have to wrap this bathroom humor in an entire case of toilet paper to keep from laughing!

Scott plucks symbolism from the abstract and plunks it smack in the middle of the miracle of a baby being born. He pits an ugly act against understanding and love. The outcome is real and beautiful.

Lots of fun with God and Death in a debate over free will as Will waits, imprisoned at the gates of heaven with an elephant footprint on his chest from a crushing death. "What really matters is how free you feel," says God. Some thought provoking ideas beneath the craziness of the situation.

Solomonson's two people and one rose (at a time) take us on a journey from isolated desolation to reaching out in a short 10 minutes. Time passes like slides in an old time slide projector, clicking forward, then slowing down as Rachel finally seeks out human contact, returning to the real world of real time and real people. Not a beat is missed. Good work!

Vladimir and Estragon move over. Bottle is waiting... waiting... wishing to be taken home, or at least to be recycled. The Sun rises and sets and time passes. A philosophical Bird. A gust of Wind. And time passes into the ecological future we're afraid is coming. Humans, unaware and careless, are no more. I love this very beautiful play!