Review: Rover Dramawerks' 10 MINUTE COMEDIES has something for everyone!

10 Minute Play Festival

Directors include: Nancy Roberts Pistilli, Nathan Beeman, Deborah Little Key, 

Charlotte Taylor, Stan Kelly, Jon-Paul McGowan, Russell Sims, Jorge Martin Lara,

Matthew Stepan, Nolan Spinks and Dahlia Parks

Produced by Rover Dramawerks

Audience Rating: PG-13 for mature humor
Running Time: 2 hours with a 15 minute intermission
Accessible Seating: Available
Hearing Devices: Not Available
Sensory Friendly Showing: Not Available
ASL Showing: Not Available
Volume Level: Comfortable Volume Level
Noises or Visuals to Prepare For: None of note

Reviewed by Natalie Shaw

There's nothing like a good comedy! And, eleven of them is even better! Rover Dramawerks in Plano opened their 10 minute Comedy Festival this weekend, which boasts some new and familiar talent in our area. Over a hundred plays were considered, but only eleven made the cut, teaching us, once again, to laugh at ourselves and our human behavior. So, just who made the cut? Here's a quick list of the talented playwrights and their plays who will be considered as the overall winner of the festival, in which, we (the audience) get to choose: 

Scott Mullen, I Just Sneezed With a Big Mouthful of Coffee and I Do Not Recommend It
Lindsey Brown, The Last Deck Chair in the Resort
Laurie Allen, Stealing a Kiss
Beth Polsky, Charlie
Matt Crowley, Couples Therapy
David MacGregor, Trivial
Chuck Brestman, Thr33
Brian Vinero, Ten Minutes 'til Christmas
Carol Mullen, Sirens
Keith Whalen, Coming to Town
Richard Castle, Designed 2B Deleted

And, since you know you'll have a favorite play, be sure to vote and place your ballet in the ballet box at the end of the production. 

I will be bold and say-- I wish EVERY theater did this! What a fantastic way to help new playwrights publish their first play, directors get their feet wet and new talent broadcast their skills. Of course, accomplished local actors like Laura Sosnowski, Anthony Magee, Sue Goodner, Sinan Beskok, Brad Echols, Sara Parisa and Sean Lewis (just to name a few) also grace the stage, giving well-rounded performances, (some of which are in more than one play.) But, some new (or new-to-me) faces who give outstanding performances include Andie Pace, Jamie Korthase, Melissa Hatch, Michael Hatch and Rashae Boyd. 

Projects like this are so important in building our community and bringing all of us together to support one another and our abilities. And, I personally love getting to see the different styles of genre and how they come together all in one night. "Comedy" has a broad meaning. It may mean that a story is lighthearted and romantic, it could also be a parody based on something that most of us are familiar with (like Cop shows, dating apps or cheesy Christmas movies) or it could even take a more sinister turn into dark comedy that's not meant to be taken seriously. And any of these might include elements of physical comedy, situational comedy, or possibly irony.  Whatever your fancy, Rover's 10 Minute Comedies has something for everyone!  Be sure to reserve your seat soon and tune in to find out who the winner is! Performances continue through April 20.

Y'all Enjoy!

Natalie