They may not be famous (yet), but these Seattle-area playwrights are worth checking out. And their award-winning plays definitely make the trip out to Burien Little Theatre this weekend worth your while.

As second place recipients in BLT's Bill & Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival, Suzanne Bailie and Jesse Putnam have many reasons to be pleased. A local theatre company has recognized their work. BLT's productions of their scripts are finely crafted pieces of theatre. And the near-capacity crowd on opening night last Friday heartily showed their approval with enthusiastic comments and lively applause.

Two by Suzanne Bailie is a crisp one-act story about a fictional society where cloning makes childhood unnecessary and one's life can start over again from scratch if you so choose.

Unlike other futuristic stories that can paint a grim picture of a soul-less future, "Two" asks this "what if" story with wit and humanity. A simple set and a cast of three actors explore this question with surprising ease. Adam Hegg portrays a cloned man, Jet Alvarez, but deftly creates the stereotype of the tortured soul with humor and an alarming sense of normal-ness.

Serena Spaulding is perfect as the part human/part computer. And Grace Reamer as the mother with a tragic past gives her performance a quality reminiscent of the great Carol Burnett.

Jesse Putnam's Super Tuesday is an intriguing full-length drama that could have been inspired by the headlines in our recent political past. Jim Powers (Michael Terrence) is an African-American governor who is running for president against a more conservative opponent (Robert Harkins).

Currently leading in the polls just three days before the Super Tuesday elections, Powers is confronted by an old friend (Fernando Luna) who begs for clemency for his young nephew who sits on death row (Steven Gomez). Powers must now wrestle with the impossible choice between saving a 17-year-old murderer and his bid for the White House.

Putman's script is written in the style of a television show with mostly short scenes set in multiple locations, a challenge for anyone attempting to stage a play simply and cleanly. Director Kent Johnson chose to place copious set pieces both on the stage and on the floor next to the audience to keep the action moving quickly between scenes.

The actors kept their opening night pace brisk. Several effective performances kept this story engaging. Kevin Finney was a standout as Powers aide Chuck Bartell, while Maggie Larrick as Powers' wife Angela and Maria Knox as his daughter Rochelle were a refreshing presence on stage.

Michael Terrence's Powers couldn't help but suggest Barak Obama in his performance, and RaeAnne Marie Carlson created a believable campaign aide Donna Zula.

Two and Super Tuesday will run for one more weekend. During the weekends of April 22- May 1, the first place winners will be presented. Bold Grace: The Voyages of the Pirate O'Malley by Ashley Schalow and Unfound Fossils by Christopher Bailey will round out the festival with stories of pirates and the Zodiac Killer.
In addition, a staged reading of Sean Walbeck's play Action! Commercials! Subtext! will continue on April 16 at 2pm, and Katherine Luck's The Fishbowl will be read on April 23 and 30 at 2pm. These readings are free to the public.

All tickets for the fully-staged productions are only $10, which makes the festival one of the best deals in town. Don't miss it.

Purchase tickets online at www.burienlittletheatre.org or call 206-242-5180.