Recommended by Brent Alles

Being roughly the same age as the characters in this play, this work hit me harder than I initially thought it would. The conversation in this play is incredibly real and relevant. Primary for me was the theme of how we define ourselves at certain points in our lives and what is ultimately to be the meaning of who we are and what we mean - to others, to ourselves. This play wrestles with that all while developing a friendship between three men that is truly affecting and engrossing, especially in examining how their backgrounds shape their lives and relationships.

Hoo boy, this was one intense piece. I am a fan of "Videodrome" and "Thirst" and yet Hagelstein still managed to disturb me with the imagery that's portrayed here. And yet... it's compelling. Dark as hell, but if you're of the right mindset, you don't turn away from the reading. One would think that would be the reaction to seeing this acted out on stage as well. The right kind of audience is going to eat this up (pun intended, I suppose).

A very funny 10-minute that also manages to pack a sweet moment in it as we reach the climax. Ah, the things we aren't able to say until someone's departed, eh? Good thing James attempts to find a way to make that necessary closure, even if it takes supernatural effort to do so. Laughed out loud several times at this... very well done!

A fun little slice of life in this 10-minute. The byplay between the two characters is natural and engaging. Enjoyed the bit about references in the middle. It's definitely interesting how something like proper footwear defines us in some small way, isn't it? Fields definitely captures that interesting little quirk of life in this piece.

DnDer that I am, I was initially drawn in by that "gimmick." However, happily, this play is way more than that. DnD provides an excellent framework, to be sure, to explore the lives of these five characters and get drawn up in their histories, their struggles, and their eventual triumphs. The structure of the work perhaps keeps you on your toes at times, but in the end, you're left with a wonderful character study that not only says quite a bit about addiction and recovery but also friendship and what we make of it. An excellent play!

A thrilling piece that builds the tension effectively until the fever pitch of the climax. The characters are well developed and engaging. You genuinely feel for them and want them to be able to vanquish the demons of the past. There are eerie touches throughout that definitely keep the reader (and the eventual viewer) on edge. This would absolutely make an excellent edge of your seat performance experience for those that choose to stage it.

This was a thought provoking piece. Why do we sometimes experience "miraculous" healing? What do we think in terms of the conflict between "faith" and science? You have that exploration here, and it's an interesting little morality piece that develops. I think what I love the best is that at the end, Alice's final statement... it's not necessarily a promise... it may be a threat. It was an eerie way to leave the piece, and honestly, there was an eeriness throughout the whole thing that was hard to shake upon completion. Recommended!

Really enjoyed this piece! I thought Williams really got the "voices" down pat for the likes of Reiner and Fields. (And I assume Beethoven, though I don't have television/film evidence to back that up. :) ) Good patter between all the characters in this amusing holiday dream. Definitely made me a little wistful as I was a big fan of Carl Reiner, and this piece made me miss him all over again. Fields was his usual irascible self as well and again, you have some great back and forth here between the characters. A good holiday read!

This was a great piece to read. The mythology that Bell creates draws you in, and there are still unique twists in a genre that is admittedly crowded. Brittany makes a great protagonist... someone you absolutely root for, and her friends are pretty great too. Gwendolyn makes an excellent villain... will love to see her musical pieces brought to life. The music samples are excellent... I was hoping that was the style Bell and his associates were going for, and I wasn't disappointed. Excited to see this produced at some point!

Oh man, the impact of that epilogue... Anyway, Taube does an effective job here of showing the struggles of an excon and the person trying to help him stay on the straight and narrow. Taube's flair for dialogue shines through in this piece, making it fully realized and definitely realistic. A sobering look at life after being "inside" and the temptations and dangers that await even when you're not behind bars any more.