"Vital Signs" By Hannah Snyder-Beck

The Vital Theatre Company once again brings their annual New Works Festival to the stage with "Vital Signs." Each week of this three-week festival features new works from emerging playwrights. Week Two includes a brilliant one-woman piece written and performed by Jackie Maruschak. In "Last Stop: Neverland," Ms. Maruschak plays oversized and downtrodden Tinkerbell, who has been kicked out of Neverland because she grew up.

In another Week Two offering, "American Soil," Dennis Gagomiros plays a loving father who becomes obsessed with trees after hearing the results of the 2004 presidential election. Mr. Gagomiros exudes a kind presence and endows his character with complexity and depth, however his performance lacks the energy needed to broadcast past the third row.

In Michael John Garcés’s "Sandlot Ball," Nick Choksi successfully captures adolescent angst as he attempts to stand up to his older brother (Kevin Dhaniram). The performances given by Mr. Gagomiros, Mr. Choksi and, especially Ms. Maruschak remind us why it is crucial to support emerging talent. It is worth sitting through the rest of the clunky program to see these three perform.