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Matthew Weaver

Recommended by Matthew Weaver

  • A Craigslist Play by Ruben Carbajal
    3 Jan. 2019
    “ YAY! I LOVE Carbajal's approach to playwriting in this fashion! (Although when he uses his own words the result is just as good, so this just goes to show he has a good eye for recognizing quality dialogue no matter where it lies.) Here is the tale of residents in North New Jersey holding their hearts out for the world to see, and Carbajal captures it and delivers a stirring, moving rendition. Essentially, he sets it to music. We often say, "I would watch so-and-so read the phone book." In Carbajal's capable hands, the phone book would make us cry. ”
  • TOILET PAPER by Emma Goldman-Sherman
    31 Dec. 2018
    “ CRINGING in self-awareness and hugging my mom TODAY; Goldman-Sherman portrays an all-too familiar domestic scene in which the emotional stakes are sky-high. Like of all her words, all of her works, this is funny, provocative, bold and true. Wives and mothers in the audience will applaud and shake their heads knowingly; husbands and sons will flinch - and gasp at the father and son's audacity to demand an apology from the Mother character. Good art changes the audience and prompts heated conversation; TOILET PAPER is certain to do both. Produce this play yesterday. ”
  • THE ONE-WORD CHRISTMAS CAROL (ten-minute play) by Dwayne Yancey
    29 Dec. 2018
    “ If you haven't partaken of Yancey's one-word classics, they are a treat and this is a good place to start. Dickens himself would be proud. I particularly liked this glimpse into Belle's family, and of course Scrooge's back and forth with the Christmas ghosts always delight. Yancey makes it look deceptively easy but don't be fooled, it's HARD selecting the exactly right single word at a time to convey the spirit of a timeless story, move the plot forward and still have the entire project feel fresh and vibrant. Yancey is just the man for the undertaking. ”
  • A Small Attempt to be a Specific Woman, But Really Doesn't Mean Anything, Just Ignore Me by Emma Goldman-Sherman
    29 Dec. 2018
    “ A new Goldman-Sherman work is something to celebrate and to be celebrated, and this is no exception. A window onto the warts and all truth for some of us, an open door and sheer, stark, recitation of fact for the rest of us. She is so good at what she does, never flinching from the/her/the truth, and always finding new, simple, complex ways to break our hearts and, again, this is no exception. A playwright who finds the words that need to be spoken, words that cry to be heard. This is no exception; Goldman-Sherman is exceptional. ”
  • For Richard, for Poorer by Steven G. Martin
    17 Dec. 2018
    “ A lovely, loving, heartfelt offering. I waaaay relate to Eddie and his tendency to spiral into self-doubt and questions of self-worth, just as I think many of us in the audience will. May we all find our Richard, calm and sensible, even though his farts smell like a vegetarian's farts. These two men know each other in the most profound ways two people can know one another. Martin shows us both sides of the coupling, and shows us why they strike just the perfect balance. ”
  • Bless You by Lee R. Lawing
    16 Dec. 2018
    “ CUTE! What a fun, funny, romantic offering from Lawing. This would be hilarious to see two talented performers, a marvelous showcase for actors with killer timing. Deceptively complex; it's fascinating to see how Lawing layers the words for maximum impact. I particularly like how Sam the Christian is a little less enthused by Gus' knowledge and research in the moment of passion - and the need for a refresher course in the face of Gus' intensity. It all builds to a great moment of physical comedy that should leave audiences gasping in their seats. Lawing's short play is a gift. ”
  • How to Audition for a Play if You're a Girl by Emily Hageman
    16 Dec. 2018
    “ Yes, Hageman's writing is hysterical, adorable, kind, thoughtful, versatile, pointed and wise. It's also important, and will become even moreso in the days and years and millennia ahead, as we move further into a society which embraces such qualities. If you're in a drama club that can't have any fun with an Emily Hageman play then GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE IT'S A TRAP AND YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER. A decidedly pro-woman, pro-kindness, pro-emotion revolution is coming, and Hageman is out in front, leading the charge. ”
  • Three Syllables of Shame by Rom Watson
    11 Dec. 2018
    “ I legitimately laughed out loud at the end of Watson's delightful play, which puts a lively spin on the fears of every expectant parent. Charlie and Angela have the conversation every parent has, or should have, about preparing their unborn kid for death, Santa Claus and treating life as a game. I particularly liked Charlie's thoughtful pause after suggesting Avarice. Angela: "We're not naming our baby after one of the seven deadly sins." Lots of good stuff here for performers to have an awful lot of fun and play good chemistry together. (Give it to a real-life couple!) ”
  • The Red Wool by Jeremy Kareken
    10 Dec. 2018
    “ A rip-roaring farce that has the feel of the best of a good David Ives or Larry Gelbart script. Kareken (so good with 80 CARDS) here offers us foolish kings, wise spies in the form of slave girls, befuddled scribes, delightful eunuchs -- who occasionally step out of character to offer the audience apologetic addresses from the playwright himself, and the world is better for it. A treat to read; would be a gift to behold the rapid-fire dialogue delivered at its liveliest. If you'll pardon the Gerald, Kareken's satire is a dessert, sinfully rich and exquisite. ”
  • Not Your White Christmas by Diana Burbano
    7 Dec. 2018
    “ This short play is an excellent primer into what makes Burbano such a great playwright: She takes a deeper, more intimate look at major social issues with very appealing characters and drives home her point - often with humor, always with humanity and grace. Martin and Jacqui seek solace in the cold from her MAGA family, and we feel like we're sitting out on the porch with them. Or we wish we were. Any Burbano script in your festival or season is a sure bet. ”

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