Short, poignant and sweet: "Summer Shorts" Series A

"Sec. 310, Row D, Seats 5 and 6," Warren Leight's crowd-
pleasing one-acter in "Summer Shorts Series A" at
59E59 Theaters. Pictured Peter Jacobson and Geoffrey Cantor
in a photo by Carol Rosegg.

If brevity is the soul of wit, the short short play should prove the embodiment of that spirit.

Some do so with heart, some with humor, but all three of the "Summer Shorts: Series A," at 59E59 Theaters through August 30th, are entertaining and interesting. Each in its own unique way.

The most pleasing of the lot is "Sec. 310, Row D, Seats 5 and 6," Warren Leight's ode to men and sportsfans. Three season ticket holders in Madison Square Garden nosebleed seats share the agonies of being Knick fans as their lives unfold over some twenty years. It's a funny and well-played little drama. Geoffrey Cantor, Peter Jacobson, and Cezar Williams give nicely tuned performances under Fred Berner's direction.

Alex Breaux and Shane Patrick Kearns in "The Sky and The Limit" by
Roger Hedden at "Summer Shorts Series A." Photo by Carol Rosegg.

Did spirtuality or too much weed drive George (Shane Patrick Kearns) to jump off a cliff? This mesa was where he wanted to celebrate his marriage. Aldie (Alex Breaux) lives with the regret of cracking wise when he should have been attentive to his friend. Allison Daugherty rounds out the cast in Roger Hedden's "The Sky and the Limit." Under Billy Hopkins' direction, this simple story simply told has depth and humanity.

Miriam Silverman and Adam Green in a scene from Eric Lane's "The Riverbed."
Photo by Carol Rosegg.

Filling the spaces of loss with a calm that belies their emotions, Adam (Adam Green) and Megan (Miriam Silverman) take turns retelling the story of the death of their daughter Lucy. Eric Lane's "Riverbed" is about the consequences of one moment of inattention. Megan and Adam are nice people struggling to reconnect after their younger child drowns. It's the unexpected in their story that makes this monologue come powerfully together.

For more information about "Summer Shorts," please visit www.59e59.org.

It's that sweet time: Summer Shorts is here again

I love the short-form play. Like condensed milk, it's made a little richer and sweeter for the concentration.

Its flavor is similar to but different from the original, of course, but  more potent and easier to whip into a frenzy of thoughts and ideas.

The challenge for the playwrights is, as always, to make their point fresh and cogent in a brief time. These are mini one acts!

The schedule for this year's Summer Shorts is:

Series A-- The Sky and the Limit by Roger Hedden, directed by Billy Hopkins

Much to the amusement of his best friend, a young man dives into one of America's mesa strewn deserts in search of the perfect site for a wedding.

Riverbed by Eric Lane, directed by Matthew Rauch

A lyrical drama about a married couple that experiences an intense loss and their struggle to find their way back to each other.

Sec. 310, Row D, Seats 5 and 6 by Warren Leight, director TBA

Three guys share two season tickets as they watch the Knicks, and their lives, pass before their eyes.

Series B--Doubtless by Albert Innaurato, directed by Jack Hofsiss

With such formidable opponents as hypocrisy, government, hysteria, neurosis, family, religion and pop culture – can we ever really know and accept who we are?  Well, these two brave nuns are going to give it a go!   

The Mulberry Bush by Neil Labute, directed by Maria Mileaf

Two men meet up on a bench in the park. One of them is meant to be there. The other is not. What follows is a domestic thriller played out in the harsh sunlight of a weekday afternoon.

Napoleon in Exile by Daniel Reitz, directed by Paul Schnee 

Corey is 25, living at home, can’t hold a job, and is obsessed with Minecraft. His mother has other ideas for him.

Catch them at 59E59 Theaters now. And come back to this space for our commentary.