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Claudia Haas

Recommended by Claudia Haas

  • Apple Season by E. M. Lewis
    19 Apr. 2018
    “ You can run but you cannot hide. Memory catches up and it does so with a vengeance in this play. Lewis keeps the stakes very high - life and death. Set in an apple orchard, the sweet apples belie the very bitter home. The trees were safety nets which is why she can spend time in the orchard but not in the house. Careening from the past to the present and back again, the play sets in motion events that must occur if Lissie is ever going to finally heal. An aching take on a memory play. ”
  • We the Sheeple by Ellen Davis Sullivan
    18 Apr. 2018
    “ The play is a fitting antidote to our political climate. But Sullivan gives us hope. If the sheep can rebel against the new farmer maybe others can resist. Told as a fable, Sullivan's version of animal farm keeps the satire but throws in a whole lot of silly. You're really grateful for the silly. And the laughter. This is a great addition to the call-for-action political play festivals that have popped up everywhere with some delightful roles. ”
  • Midnight Clear by Ellen Davis Sullivan
    18 Apr. 2018
    “ This play has just enough warmth for the holidays and then you throw in the magic and the music and there is cheer all around. It never veers into the saccharine (it's set is an airport which is the antithesis of holiday sweetness). The two characters are on separate life-changing missions and of course are derailed by winter weather. The gate agent is well - a gatekeeper. The dialogue crackles, the stakes mount, characters clash and then there is a song - and even if you are simply reading this - the baritone's voice shines like a star. ”
  • Once Upon a Line by Sharai Bohannon
    18 Apr. 2018
    “ A clever riff on fan culture using two friends who debate their reading habits. If you started Harry Potter as a child and were an adult when the last book came out - but you still desperately needed to read it - you know these people. It's a coming of age tale with Harry Potter/Twilight and captures the nuances of these books as backdrops of a life. There's a lovely turn when you realize one of the characters is using the books as a gauge for his future. And the little surprise at the end - surprise! ”
  • Spaced Out by John Kelly
    18 Apr. 2018
    “ Space exploration with a dog and a monkey has never been more entertaining. This sharply theatrical piece is told with flair and a whole lot of inspired movement. Monkey and Dog are my heroes! (And we don't talk about the chickens.) A beautifully-realized piece of truth and silliness that young audiences and their families will devour. ”
  • Denver by Jessica Chipman
    18 Apr. 2018
    “ This is a short, taut thriller that starts innocently and grows into blackness. There are the usual conversations between siblings after loss: wills, possession, where is the yellow tablecloth? Denver has crossed a line and sees no way back. Chipman's dialogue sharply reveals their characters as the play progresses This sibling rivalry has a lot of sharp corners and just when you think you're going straight again, it twists. ”
  • 99 Balloons by Jessica Chipman
    18 Apr. 2018
    “ A moving recollection of a baby's short time on earth, it's based on the 99 Balloons video that went viral as well as Matt Mooney's blog. It's respectful of the family and does what the parents want - it celebrates life. The play is fast-paced which only enhances how fast the time went with their son Elliot. There's a clever use of an actor as the baby which adds to the poignancy. The theme of unconditional love is welcome in these times. ”
  • THE BIG ONE! (ten-minute play) by Sarah Tuft
    18 Apr. 2018
    “ Climate change is front and center here as two people deal with the aftermath of a natural disaster. You have to love that they are both good at natural disasters having lived through them before. Tuft finds humor in the pragmatic, emergency readiness of each character (who knew Classic Cola had so many uses?). The dialogue is swift and sure, balancing disaster with flirtation. This "aftermath-maybe-romance" has no histrionics of the day after, just a warm blending of "getting to know you" and a sly one-up-man-ship of who has the better supplies. A play for our times, ”
  • ELEANOR by Martha Patterson
    17 Apr. 2018
    “ Eleanor is a delightful, slightly off-kilter romantic comedy. At a wake for someone the characters may or may not know, past, present and future converge in unlikely ways. Is it usual to use a wake as a pick-up place? Does it matter? There are smiles all around and some poignancy in the vulnerability of the unlikely couple. How wonderful to see some smart roles for older actors. ”
  • Finding Neoplasms by Diana Burbano
    17 Apr. 2018
    “ This is a beautiful play with three strong characters (two are children) struggling with the worst that can happen to you. Some gorgeous moments: little Lucy researching cancer cells, Lexy switching conversations from the octopus to pulling the plug on her. Burbano finds these brave fronts in each family member but smartly glosses over them with the chatter of every-day life. There's little sentiment but much love. You won't find a tidy bow at the end but you will be happy you spent time with this family. ”

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