Recommended by Brent Alles

A very modern "Waiting" play that's also very funny in its "absurdity of banality" approach. The general disorientation is effective as this play hurtles along as quickly as an (on time) subway. This would definitely be much fun for actors to pull off in a 10-minute festival!

A challenging, intriguing examination of people that are all too real in our current society. That being said, Friedman is not dealing with caricature here; there's nuance to all the characters, which certainly allows for deeper inflection after finishing the work. No easy answers are provided, and yet, there is perhaps the SLIGHT glimmer of hope that things can change. That change is still going to be extremely difficult in some quarters, though, and this play doesn't flinch away from that harsh truth and instead allows us to examine that reality on our own terms.

Oh, this was a lovely little 10-minute indeed. First, I'm a sucker for "letters back and forth" theater ever since I saw "84 Charing Cross Road" years ago. So, Barley's play reminded me fondly of those previous works, but it's perhaps even more poignant today, when the art of physical letter writing does seem to be a dying art, as the playwright keenly points out. There's a lot packed into this short little play, and the ending just warmed my heart. A nice little slice of joy to read at a time when I needed it. Lovely!

There's much to enjoy here in this clever mix of history, hagiography, and classical theater with a good vein of humor that runs throughout. The anachronisms of the Muse that were peppered throughout the script were especially very amusing indeed. You learn much from this play, but you also are very entertained in the presentation of a subject that many may not have been previously aware. This would definitely be a great night of theater to attend!

Very enjoyable piece! Nicely drawn characters, snappy back and forth between all involved, and some good statements made in terms of societal mores and familial expectations. Then come the very funny twists at the end that really hit well in terms of how the situation was set up and then subverted right in front of our eyes. A piece of theater that should make a very good impression on those who view it.

This was a wonderful read. An engaging slice of life that's at first funny and then, in the end, incredibly moving and touching. Wasn't expecting that, but it was a rewarding finish to a great piece. I really enjoyed the "memory" technique here and thought the overall structure worked well in terms of making the piece come to life. This would definitely be great to see on stage at some point!

This engrossing piece attracts you initially with the use of language and conversation, both said and unsaid. The description of the glass ceiling early on is one example of how the play reimagines phrases one's heard so many times and perhaps never really considered the implications of. That rhetorical foundation is a strong one for Soltero-Brown to then start ramping up the tension of the situation. A "cat and mouse" game ensues. Eventually, we get, perhaps, a meaning behind this intense conversation. Then, tables are upturned, if you will, and we're left to make our own conclusions. Incredibly engaging theater.

You know this is going to be a good piece when you're already laughing at the "Setting." And then the laughs keep coming throughout this very funny 10-minute. Tremendously fun comedy here. This would be so much fun to see performed on stage!

The implications of this monologue are truly fascinating, and Dzubak leaves us in a very thoughtful mood indeed after we finish the monologue. This would be an excellent performance piece for acting students, monologists, etc. Exceptional work here in providing a memorable piece.

I really enjoyed how this play was able to present dealing with grief in a fresh way. There are very funny moments throughout, but overall this was a very moving look at the subject of how we grieve and how, perhaps, we eventually move on. Wonderful interaction between the main characters. This would definitely be a benefit to a 10-minute festival that would have it.