Recommended by Matthew Weaver

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    I'm beginning to think Kaya Mallick's plays should be offered as conversation starters for high school and college classes and community dialogues. S.S.L.U.T.T. is absolutely no exception.
    This is a tragically, infuriatingly timely play. If you're not furious by the end of the play (if you weren't already furious going in), there's no hope for you as a human being. Mallick handles the subject with laser focus and grace. A tour de force. Should be performed in theaters every where.

    I'm beginning to think Kaya Mallick's plays should be offered as conversation starters for high school and college classes and community dialogues. S.S.L.U.T.T. is absolutely no exception.
    This is a tragically, infuriatingly timely play. If you're not furious by the end of the play (if you weren't already furious going in), there's no hope for you as a human being. Mallick handles the subject with laser focus and grace. A tour de force. Should be performed in theaters every where.

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    Just as she does with PERFECT, here Mallick presents an uncomfortable-yet-timely topic with precision and balance. Parker violated Ellie, Parker is her childhood best friend. Both things are true, and now Ellie, and Parker, are grappling with both truths. None of the answers are easy; Mallick allows their story to unfold in a poetic setting that harkens back to that childhood innocence, now permanently shattered. It's a tragic tale told smartly, and honors Ellie, which is exactly correct.

    Just as she does with PERFECT, here Mallick presents an uncomfortable-yet-timely topic with precision and balance. Parker violated Ellie, Parker is her childhood best friend. Both things are true, and now Ellie, and Parker, are grappling with both truths. None of the answers are easy; Mallick allows their story to unfold in a poetic setting that harkens back to that childhood innocence, now permanently shattered. It's a tragic tale told smartly, and honors Ellie, which is exactly correct.

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    Mallick's PERFECT is a ***PERFECT*** example of a well-balanced 10-minute character piece. She outlines very clearly both Anne and Candace's perspectives and points of view, with an ease that's enviable. Better still, she doesn't go for a neat, simple conclusion.
    It would be fascinating to watch audience responses, to see which character they sympathize with more, and whether/when those sympathies shift. Mallick has written a Rorschach test of a play.

    Mallick's PERFECT is a ***PERFECT*** example of a well-balanced 10-minute character piece. She outlines very clearly both Anne and Candace's perspectives and points of view, with an ease that's enviable. Better still, she doesn't go for a neat, simple conclusion.
    It would be fascinating to watch audience responses, to see which character they sympathize with more, and whether/when those sympathies shift. Mallick has written a Rorschach test of a play.

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    The Queen of ERSTWHILE!!!
    Floyd-Priskorn delivers a heartfelt, heart-wrenching masterpiece of simplicity. Every word here is underlined with love, and truth. Pure elegance, right down to the final word.

    The Queen of ERSTWHILE!!!
    Floyd-Priskorn delivers a heartfelt, heart-wrenching masterpiece of simplicity. Every word here is underlined with love, and truth. Pure elegance, right down to the final word.

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    One of my favorite things about Dellagiarino Feriend's writing is when she is savage, and here, she is no-holds-barred savage. When the twist - not that there's a twist comes - she twists it just a little bit further and the result is wickedly delightful while at the same time, rings all too loudly with truth.
    A wry societal commentary with enough zing so that the audience barely detects it's being socially commentated to? Dellagiarino Feriend eats that for breakfast every morning.

    One of my favorite things about Dellagiarino Feriend's writing is when she is savage, and here, she is no-holds-barred savage. When the twist - not that there's a twist comes - she twists it just a little bit further and the result is wickedly delightful while at the same time, rings all too loudly with truth.
    A wry societal commentary with enough zing so that the audience barely detects it's being socially commentated to? Dellagiarino Feriend eats that for breakfast every morning.

  • Matthew Weaver: The Prime Cut by Aly Kantor
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    Audiences will find much healing in this as funny as it is dramatic/wholesome/honest short play from Kantor, a vibrant voice and inspiring presence in playwriting. Her plays never go entirely in the way you expect, they always wind up going some place much, much better. Expect to see THE PRIME CUT - erstwhile ERSTWHILE- in many festivals and competitions, deservedly so.

    Audiences will find much healing in this as funny as it is dramatic/wholesome/honest short play from Kantor, a vibrant voice and inspiring presence in playwriting. Her plays never go entirely in the way you expect, they always wind up going some place much, much better. Expect to see THE PRIME CUT - erstwhile ERSTWHILE- in many festivals and competitions, deservedly so.

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  • Matthew Weaver: Tender Chickens by John Busser
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    Busser wholeheartedly embraces a chickentacular title, with gusto, and the results are anything but fowl. No poultry pun goes unexplored, with enough ribald innuendo to please the naughtiest of audiences. Fun for the whole henhouse.
    Upon being called a birdbrain: "That’s not much of an insult considerin’ I’m a bird."
    A gem of a nugget, and a nugget of a gem.

    Busser wholeheartedly embraces a chickentacular title, with gusto, and the results are anything but fowl. No poultry pun goes unexplored, with enough ribald innuendo to please the naughtiest of audiences. Fun for the whole henhouse.
    Upon being called a birdbrain: "That’s not much of an insult considerin’ I’m a bird."
    A gem of a nugget, and a nugget of a gem.

    ”
  • Matthew Weaver: ERSTWHILE [A MONOLOGUE] by Steven G. Martin
    “

    As someone who frequently pesters Steven G. Martin for another BENNY V.-sized full-length play, here Martin delivers a masterpiece in miniature, crafting an exquisite monologue that delves into Garrett's processes and leaves we the audience wholly touched, and also worried about his future. Theater teachers, share this with your students so that they can see what monologues can DO.

    As someone who frequently pesters Steven G. Martin for another BENNY V.-sized full-length play, here Martin delivers a masterpiece in miniature, crafting an exquisite monologue that delves into Garrett's processes and leaves we the audience wholly touched, and also worried about his future. Theater teachers, share this with your students so that they can see what monologues can DO.

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  • Matthew Weaver: Erstwhile: A Hate Story by Christopher Soucy
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    "Well, one can't be a villain forever." Speaks VOLUMES. Would that more bad guys, archnemesese and supervillains were this in touch with their psyches. And that more superheroes and supervillains were able to come together to talk through their problems and arrive at an ... Oh. Hmm. Never mind.
    Soucy's wholehearted embrace of the ERSTWHILE title challenge is inspiring and infectious!

    "Well, one can't be a villain forever." Speaks VOLUMES. Would that more bad guys, archnemesese and supervillains were this in touch with their psyches. And that more superheroes and supervillains were able to come together to talk through their problems and arrive at an ... Oh. Hmm. Never mind.
    Soucy's wholehearted embrace of the ERSTWHILE title challenge is inspiring and infectious!

    ”
  • Matthew Weaver: Erstwhile: A Frank Ellis Mystery by Christopher Soucy
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    On the one hand, this is a zany noir. On the other hand, Soucy brings us a long sought-after reckoning for all those hardboiled detectives and their issues with women. Is solving the case ultimately hopeless? For Simone and Louise, it's no longer thankless.

    On the one hand, this is a zany noir. On the other hand, Soucy brings us a long sought-after reckoning for all those hardboiled detectives and their issues with women. Is solving the case ultimately hopeless? For Simone and Louise, it's no longer thankless.

    ”