Bug By: Tracy Letts

This one is not for the faint of heart or the squeamish. This is a psychological tale of paranoia and conspiracy. It's twisted and yet is ultimately about loneliness, love and found family. And yes, the creep-crawlies play a significant role in this play.

Every Brilliant Thing By: Duncan MacMillan with Johnny Donahoe

Every Brilliant Thing is an innovative theatrical piece  that is, theoretically, a one person show. However the structure of this piece make it an audience participation, full length play. It's a simple play about a young boy who starts a list of 1000 brilliant things.  There is a reason he starts this list, there is a reason the list expands.  I encourage everyone to read this, or see a production of it.  I was blessed to have done.

 

The Minutes By: Tracy Letts

I started out laughing while reading this.  The absurdity of small town politics is on full display. I finished with my mouth agape in horror. Letts is a master at turning a story on it's ear and plummeting the reader, and thusly the audience, into a completely different show. Although a few years old, this piece is a horrifyingly accurate portrayal of what our present day political landscape feels like.

Fallen Angels By: Noel Coward

A delicious, refined (up to a point) comedy of errors, with Coward's signature wit. Three acts of quick and biting dialogue and British stiff upper lipness.  How can one not enjoy it?!

 

Marjorie Prime By: Jordon Harrison

This was tenderly written, but creepy as hell! I'm not a fan of AI, so this, to me was deeply disturbing and a little too prescient, and yet it was respectfully written. Sent shivers down my spine. This is one I would definitely like to see staged, just so I can watch the audience to see when the see what's actually happening and who is who or what.

Becky Shaw By: Gina Gionfriddo

Ooo-child!  These people are a train wreck!  I didn't like any of these characters, and yet I couldn't look away!  There was something mesmerizing about these very damaged people navigation (if you can call it that) there lives. The snark is deliciously written, but my God, these people are so damaged that even when they are trying to be nice it comes off as selfish, manipulative and childish. And yet I couldn't not continue to read. What does that say about me?!

 

"Oh, Mary!" By Cole Escola

A riotous, bawdy, hyper piece, with many OMG moments, and surprisingly moving.  Can't really discuss it, without giving its secrets away and trust me those secrets are moments that will make the reader gasp (at least I did). This piece is so much more than it first seems to be. Brilliant read!

Art By: Yasmina Reza Translated By: Christopher Hampton

I'm glad I saw a production of this play before I read it.  For me, it doesn't read well.  The humor doesn't come through, it doesn't conjure any solid visuals,  nor do the characters seem all that likable. However, having seen it previously, I know where the humor is and had a visual in my mind of the show as a point of reference. 

 

What We Can Know By: Ian McEwan

A hot mess of a book! It takes place in 2125, about an obsession from 2014 and it's two books in one. It's a treatise on environmental demise/awareness, it's a treatise on technology, it's a treatise on "love". The characters are not all that likable, and even less so as the story and the story within the story unfold.  And despite all this, I was intrigued and had a good time reading it.

Waiting for Godot By: Samuel Beckett

 Since I'm re-reading plays that are being revived on Broadway this season, against my better judgement I've re-read Waiting for Godot.  Still think it ranks up there with Clybourne Park as being one the two worst plays I've ever read.