THE STORY: When an elevator falls in a major city, nine lives intersect in surprising ways, both comic and tragic—through love and sex, poetry and dentistry; in offices, homes, and hotel rooms. Jill longs for Steve, who’s engaged to Barb, who hooks up with Peter, who’s already having an affair with Nan, who’s married to Marty, who subscribes to Elevator World. Meanwhile, nine stories off the ground, Douglas meets Tanya—who’s hoping to get pregnant with Hal—and a little miracle changes hands. By turns hilarious and profound, HOPE AND GRAVITY traces the barely perceivable threads that connect us all.
“…brilliantly structured and hilariously written…” —Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
“A satisfying, crowd-pleasing puzzle play, with nine scenes in two acts, but not in chronological order.” —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
“Some of the scenes are laugh-out-loud funny; others are tenderly poignant.” —Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
“There’s a thrill in chasing this plot—it’s always tantalizingly ahead of you—and finally nailing it. The thrill extends to witnessing five actors, some in dual roles, as they lay out this story that happens in the past, or sometimes in the future, yet also in the present.” —WHYY Philadelphia.
“[It’s] Michael Hollinger at his best: witty banter, well-turned phrases, and genuine characters make us laugh; then something unexpectedly wonderful and mysterious lifts us to a new level. Gravity tugs us downward but hope allows us to soar, as HOPE AND GRAVITY shows.” —Broad Street Review .
