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From the awkwardness of the first date to the end of a marriage and back together again, Next Act Theatre's season closer An Infinite Ache is an emotional way to see the many different definitions of love acted out through a couple's life together. The Milwaukee premiere of this play by David Schulner captivates audiences with both comedic charm and heartbreak. Anything that can happen to a relationship will happen to this relationship, as the audience watches characters Charles and Hope travel through their love life in a short period of time.

Schulner's style of writing is well-equipped for those of us with ADD, as the story travels quickly from different scenarios in Charles and Hope's life. Jumping from fights to making up to newborns to grandchildren, the script calls for a lot of changing of emotions in a fast-paced fashion. Thankfully Nathan Sorseth and Mary Ann de la Cruz, the only actors in the play, overcome this challenge by portraying exceptional characters and creating moments in life that seem more real than some situations in our everyday life.

Sorseth, playing Charles, created such immense chemistry with Hope that the audience could see the devotion in his eyes as he looked at her. As Charles first meets Hope, Sorseth gave Charles a nervous energy-exactly how most would act when just getting to know a potential mate. In contrast to his personality, Hope, brilliantly portrayed by de la Cruz, acted nothing but calm and a little annoyed, causing her character to become even more three dimensional.

The couple's concentration never slipped as they played their characters fully and developed them progressively. Even when an inconsiderate audience member forgot to turn off a cell phone and a loud message blared out into the small theater space, the actors didn't break an ounce of concentration, even though it distracted others from the important proposal scene. It can never be said enough: check and recheck your cell phones.

Scenic and lighting design for this performance was also flawless. With only a bed as the permanent set piece, props and other set pieces were moved in and out by the actors while the story of their life progressed and the place in which they dwelled changed. R. H. Graham, a theater professor at UWM, designed the set and gave it a natural tone. To add to this mood, lighting designer Andrew Meyers created illusions like that of a television set being turned on or light coming from a hallway door. All of these elements made the environment feel like reality in this spontaneous collection of moments.

Performed appreciatively without an intermission, An Infinite Ache explores the potentials of a relationship before it even starts. The actors achieve incredible feats by portraying this couple and keeping the audience engaged with the constant ups and downs of a relationship. Student rates are available and on April 24 the audience can 'pay what you can' for a ticket. It's a great opportunity to see amazing theater at a price you can afford.

An Infinite Ache is being performed April 6 - May 7, 2006 at the Off-Broadway Theatre located at 342 N Water St. in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward. Tickets are available at the box office or by calling 414-278-0765.

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