If you enjoy scrolling through reels or short videos on your phone, you will love attending the Ten-Minute Play Festival at the Winters Opera House. This year there were over 400 submissions from playwrights all over the country trying to get their plays produced by the local company. Eight scripts were selected and performed by the talented actors at the Winters Theatre Company.

The show began with A Factually Inaccurate Conversation by Zachary Mark, directed by Linda Glick. It was a reminder about how easily some people are lured into believing conspiracy theories, which is extremely timely given today’s turbulent times. Actor Bridget O’Flaherty played the most annoying person you can imagine. Trent Beeby doesn’t say much but has excellent stage presence and expressions.

When The Mice Are Away by Chris Smith, directed by Jim Hewlett, explored a couple’s fantasies which could be realized since they had six hours to themselves whilst their three young children were out of the house. Actors Rachel Howard-Till and Aaron Love energized the audience with their performance.

Itsy Bitsy Spider by Tim Cahill, directed by Hewlett who also acted in the sketch, was whimsical and refreshing. It also starred the wonderful Julia Berrelleza and O’Flaherty.

The first half ended with God On The Couch by Dan O’Day, directed by Ana Kormos. Actors Greg Lazaro as a patient and Mark Donnelly as his therapist amused the audience.

Clipped Wings by Mark Edward Smith, directed by Nancy Whitcomb, was one of my favorite plays of the night. Actress Misty Carman plays a bubbly young waitress who is trying to entice a newlywed and previous “big man on campus,” played by Manny Lanzaro, to leave the small town of Winters for the excitement of Los Angeles. However, his wife, played by Berrelleza, is sitting with him at the restaurant and has just warned him of new feelings he will be experiencing after the first six months of marriage. Carman is hilarious in her role and the writing is top notch!

Getting It by Leo Elroy, directed by Glick, stars Bernadette Mello as a wife rambling on to her distracted husband, played by Beeby, about how her friends don’t want to spend time with them anymore. This was basically a monologue where the wife works out what is actually happening in her marriage. Mello draws the audience in and never lets them go.

A Blast by Paul Smith, directed by Kormos, was another of my favorites. Two people meet on a park bench and have a strange, mysterious and slightly stoic conversation. Excellent writing and even more excellent execution. Kudos to actors Donnelly and Lanzaro. I could see this playing on Saturday Night Live!

Finishing up the show was A Polar Bear Walks Into A Bar by Leo McElroy, directed by Hewlett. I wish I had read the title of the play before it started, as somehow I didn’t understand what animal actor Beeby was portraying despite his white costume with ears and paws. It was cute once I figured out what was going on. Mello portrayed a lonely penguin on a blind date and had everyone laughing at the end.

Hurry up and get your tickets for this medley of one acts that plays through Saturday, March 8. Tickets are available at winterstheatre.org.