A viciously funny piece! This was a at times funny, at times very uncomfortable, visit with a Neighborhood Association Board. Diverse people, personalities and histories collide in this look at what preservation means to different people. As with Lindsay-Abaire's work, things are not always what they seem to be, and as soon as you scratch the surface, the blood will flow!
I'm so lucky to know a number of authors, and blessed that they trust me with their writings. This is a tightly and brilliantly plotted short story mystery that combines two of my favorite things: theatre and mysteries. This will be submitted for consideration for an anthology-fingers crossed that it gets chosen, because it's really good!
Thompson has a very erudite style of writing. Wonderful use of language to pain detailed pictures. This works really well in plays, and in his novel, The Book of Maps. Unfortunately, it didn't work so well with Out Clause. This book is a mystery/thriller and needs to really move, and this didn't move quickly enough for me. Despite that, the premise is really interesting and plot lines all work, and it's very thought provoking. My main issue is that it was too long and felt too long, with took me out periodically.
The Midnight Train is part Baum's Wizard of Oz, part Dickens' Christmas Carol and all Matt Haig! This wonderfully touching train ride through the life of Wilbur Budd will give you some chuckles, make you want to slap Wilbur and tug at your heart strings. Like the Midnight Library, books play a key role in this story.
I'm so lucky to have colleagues and friends in the theatre! This piece is currently in development and in production. I believe the version I read is version 3. It needs a little tightening up, but it's a fascinating character study as well as a look at chosen family/community. I enjoyed it and found it surprisingly moving.
I was lucky enough to be given a copy of this new play which is currently in production and still being developed. I really hope that this piece gets picked up, because it's smartly written, funny as hell and moving. It is a two hander about two famous folks, one of whom was pretty much silenced in their industry, and this play gives them back their voice. Just really beautifully done!
I can always count on Schechter to deliver a dispassionate telling of facts. This book is a cleverly laid out by state, but does not include the crimes we would expect. As Schechter states in his introduction, those crimes have been covered. Some of the crimes are remarkable for the changes in the laws that they lead to, some are more famous for other reasons in their particular state. All of these curated crimes give a feel for each state and time period in which they occurred. Very clever!
