Genre: Comedy/Drama
Written by: Kyle Jarrow
Directed by: Ian Tresselt
Performed by: Robert Carr, Colleen Quinlan, Gabrielle Reznek, Sam Turich.
Running time: One hour
Web site: armlesstheplay.com

While this sleek, taut comedic drama is only an hour long, it's far more entertaining than most Fringe shows twice its length. Written by OBIE-Award-winner Kyle Jarrow, Armless explores the intense psychological torment of a suburban neurotic who can't stand his arms and yearns for beautiful "nubbins" (read: stumps). Carrying a power saw in a suitcase, he leaves his equally neurotic wife—prone to hysterical breathing fits, among other ailments—and heads for the city, determined to rid himself of his worthless limbs, with or without the help of a plastic surgeon more accustomed to doing nose jobs. The dialogue and acting are razor sharp, but Armless' greatest feat is its ability to effectively express both the humor (albeit of the very dry variety) and pathos of this lost soul's strange condition. —Sean Kennedy

• Where: The Plaza Cafe at Pace University
• When: Sun, Aug 15 at 1:30 p.m.; Thu, Aug 19 at 8:45 p.m.; Fri, Aug 20 at midnight; Sat, Aug 28 at 7:45 p.m.; Sun, Aug 29 at 4:45 p.m.