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Matthew Weaver

Recommended by Matthew Weaver

  • James of Nazareth by Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend
    10 Aug. 2021
    “ "James, let's see how well you can saw that in half blindfolded." "James, let's see if that camel is ticklish." Dellagiarino Feriend gives us a totally new side of Jesus - snarky older brother and mischievous uncle - from the perspective of long-suffering younger brother James. It's a lighthearted viewpoint that emphasizes Jesus both as a human person, and ultimately as someone his disciples would follow into death. I've had Dellagiarino Feriend's play atop my reading list for a long time. It more than lived up to my excitement and greatly exceeded my expectations. Oh, and camels? Not ticklish, apparently. ”
  • LOST IN THE HILLS, A Musical (2022) by Paul Lewis
    19 Jul. 2021
    “ All the hallmarks of a Paul Lewis play are here: Strong characters, especially strong women; a timeless historical tale that stays on just this side of magic and a mystery that shows the past is never far from the present. Farmers of the Pacific Northwest's Palouse and agricultural advocates, in particular, I think will enjoy this look at the past that captures the wonder of their machinery and life's work, an admiration the playwright uses to great effect here.
    There is always something mysterious and magical afoot in a Paul Lewis play, but the greatest wonder is Lewis' words themselves. ”
  • The Adaptors by Emily Hageman
    10 Jul. 2021
    “ Emily Hageman is very very good at writing plays about and for teenagers. She is also very very good at writing plays about superheroes. Therefore, an Emily Hageman play about superheroes about and for teenagers is going to be very very good, indeed, and THE ADAPTORS does NOT disappoint. (Hageman's writing does many things, but disappointing us is never one of them.)
    Hageman explores the darkest traumas of the team's various origin stories with her signature empathy, grace and kindness. It's not hard to imagine a grieving YA audience finding comfort in these words. After all, that's Emily Hageman's superpower. ”
  • Floats by Scott Sickles
    30 May. 2021
    “ A fascinating, complex interaction in which Sickles layers on the history. Joanie and Ken navigate a complicated past in which one person has done the terrible wronging and one has been terribly wronged. Both sides get their perspective, and the unfairness of the situation is honestly acknowledged; there are no victims here. Would that reality were as even and fair-balanced as Sickles' characters. And as badass: I particularly liked Joanie's motherly pride in her daughter as she relays the story of trouble at school.
    As always, Sickles' words are full of heart and class in the face of heartache. ”
  • Orion by Matthew McLachlan
    26 May. 2021
    “ I guess the biggest thing I can say about ORION is that I needed to read it the very moment I read it, and that I suspect I will come back to it in the future as well.
    He gets extra bonus points for writing an exceedingly kind and compassionate play, one that's fair to all of its characters and gives them their moment. Heartwrenching, yes, real, also yes.
    This better become a college production mainstay.
    McLachlan is a new to me playwright, but I certainly expect to and look forward to reading more of his work in the future. ”
  • Everlasting Chocolate Therapy by Steven Hayet
    22 May. 2021
    “ I had the pleasure of watching this play as Theatre Unmasked's first full-length Zoom performance.
    Hayet's script takes a look that's both compassionate and hilarious at the fates of the original golden ticket holders of Wonka's chocolate factory. Every continuation Hayet imagines here makes absolute perfect sense as a logical continuation of the original tale, and yet is wholly original itself. A delightful showcase that allows each individual cast member their moment to shine, it would be a success whether on stage or on Zoom.
    Just as Roald Dahl envisioned, Hayet brings a lot of humanity to the fantastic. ”
  • The Vampire's Venti by Harper Caroline Lee
    16 May. 2021
    “ Lee examines the toxic masculinity beneath the appeal of the vampire mythology and comes up with a strong winner that's sharp and clever and cutting. An important social issue is discussed, it's true, but it's also smart and funny.
    Lee is a playwright to watch. ”
  • i asked you/ the art by Miranda Jonté
    14 May. 2021
    “ Jonte is just as fiery and passionate here as she is with the broad of your back (hurry up and go for a read it) although here the partner has allowed his male toxicity to show through, and Jonte (and we) are suitably frustrated, albeit still a bit flustered, and mourn what might have been, had he been able to get his head out of his rump. Le sigh. But Jonte's nameless narrator sacrifices nothing at all to thoughtlessness and callousness, and we in the audience are richer for the whole experience. Jonte writes with heat and fire, without mercy. ”
  • QUASARS by Jennifer O'Grady
    10 May. 2021
    “ QUASARS is a very moving examination of family and faith at the hardest point of its characters' lives. Everything is complicated, messy and unsettled. No one is really at their best, everyone's spirit is being tested in the midst of chaos, stress and illness. No surprise to we fans who have become accustomed to her filling her pages and stages with celebrations of humanity in even the darkest and most unexpected of corners. But here O'Grady explores such a rich setting with patience and light brush strokes, building to an ending that's inevitable, sad, lovely and full of grace. ”
  • The Heart and Soul of Thomas Elegie by Emily Hageman
    8 May. 2021
    “ Every single artist should read this play. Every single artist should read Emily Hageman.
    That's it. That's the recommendation.
    Read it and you'll see what I mean. And you will agree. ”

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