This play has such delightful surrealism threading through each of the scenes, counterbalanced by the fingerprints of capitalism that reflect on every surface. So smart! A theatrical, nuanced, and human take on how a group of characters on the poverty line reach and stumble toward the promise of better lives.

Hope is a complicated word when faced with uncertainty both economically and socially. And Emily McClain explores it so magically in MAYBE THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT. Even if you haven't lived in a small town, the struggles and connections between the characters are relatable and poignant. And the manner in which the relationships unfold between the large cast is masterfully revealed in each scene, racing toward an end that is both bittersweet and hopeful. Also the use of puppets and other production details make this play incredibly creative and exciting to produce.