Albee’s agile pen has created a world that seems neither true nor real, neither false nor fake. The story is a complex conversation about life, love, and loss. It starts with a seemingly simple premise: a Boy and a Girl are in love (played with quiet strength by Zachary Eisenstat and refreshing vulnerability by Lynn Guerra); they have a baby, they take care of the baby and each other, and they are blissfully happy so long as they remain untouched by the outside world.

Until, of course, the world finds its way inside by way of a Man and a Woman (portrayed with great intelligence and humor by Bob Mussett and Janelle Mills) who come to take the “real or imagined baby” away from the young couple. Then suddenly the conversation becomes uncomfortable, unsettling, and rather unusual.

Mid-way through the piece you’re stuck wondering where you are: is this a dream, a fantasy, or some kind of twisted memory? Are these people insane? Are they angels, gods, or ghosts? Or are they you and me? Are they even alive? Is this Purgatory? Or is this Hell on earth? After two hours of wading through the absurdity, the madness, the beauty, and poetry of Albee’s work, of the director’s and actors’ work, you leave feeling tired, bruised, confused, and yet surprisingly content. As the character of the Man so fittingly says, “If you have no wounds, no broken heart, how can you know you’re alive? …Without wounds, how do you know who you are or have been?”

Exquisite Corps Theatre has been creatively conversing with Boston audiences for the past three years, garnering critical acclaim at nearly every turn. The Play About the Baby should earn them yet another round of applause.

The Play About the Baby runs Wed-Sun through March 31, 2012 at the BCA Plaza Black Box Theatre. Tickets are $20 general admission and can be purchased at www.bostontheatrescene.com 

Cast of Exquisite Theatre Corps' production of "The Play About the Baby"

This review was for the ARTmorpheus blog (which, unfortunately, is not yet available to the public), where I intern as an arts blogger for the Boston area.