THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT a comedy by Jeremy Kareken & David Murrell and Gordon Farrell at Carpenter Square Theatre

     “The Lifespan of a Fact,” a lightning-fast comedy by Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell, and Gordon Farrell is based on the book by John D’Agata and Jim Fingal (D’Agata and Fingal are two of the characters in the play).

     Magazine editor Emily Penrose assigns Jim Fingal to fact check an essay written by John D’Agata, a writer who has been held in high regard for many years. Emily considers his latest essay to be important and very moving, but she doesn’t want any chance of a lawsuit for her struggling magazine. Jim, a new employee, is fresh out of Harvard and takes his first big assignment so seriously that soon he and the writer are butting heads over every detail. When the zealous young fact checker leaves New York and shows up at the writer’s home in Las Vegas to ply him with questions, Emily must fly out to referee and more sparks fly.   

     A critic for Variety said this about the play: “…terrifically funny dialogue…once the writer and the fact checker get into a lively debate on the ethics of factual truth vs. the beauty of literary dishonesty, it’s time to really sit up and listen. Their deadly serious but oh-so-funny ethical dispute is brilliantly argued.”

      Rhonda Clark directs the three-person cast of metro area actors. Terry Veal portrays the essayist, Elin Bhaird is the harried magazine editor, and Keegan Zimmerman is the eager fact checker. The production team includes stage manager Spencer Hankins, with set design by Ben Hall, light design by Brayden Pogson, and costumes coordinated by Rhonda Clark.     

     The production is supported in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Inasmuch Foundation, Kirkpatrick Family Fund, and Allied Arts.  Other supporters for the play” include Schwab Meat Company, Mel and Cindy Ables, Hank and Joanie Batty, John and Marsha Greiner, Debbie and Don Nevard, and Susan and Bill Schmidt

     Individual adult tickets are $30 with $25 tickets available for seniors aged 62 or older, military, and groups of ten or more. Educator tickets are $10 and students are only $5. Half-price adult tickets may be purchased when presenting the Allied Arts OKCityCard or when attending Thursday evening performances. Reservations are highly recommended for the intimate theater. For more information, visit www.carpentersquare.com. For tickets, visit carpentersquare.com or call 405-232-6500.  The public may also download the Carpenter Square Theatre app from their app store and make purchases from there.