Dark comedy gets at human truths

‘Lawnchairs,’ through March 28, Wednesdays/Thursdays, 7 p.m., Fridays/Saturdays, 8 p.m., Sundays, 3 p.m., Electric Theatre Company (326 Spruce St., 2nd Floor, Scranton). Tickets: $20 general, $15 seniors, $7 students (Wednesday tickets Pay What You Can, Thursday tickets Cheaper Than A Movie, $7). Info: 570.558.1515, www.electrictheatre.org

“Good fences make good neighbors,” or so the old saying goes. In the case of Geri and Bev, that fence would need to be high, thick and soundproof. But then Electric Theatre Company wouldn’t be premiering playwright Nancy Hasty’s deliciously dark comedy “Lawnchairs” under the direction of David Zarko.

“Lawnchairs” was inspired by Hasty’s small-town upbringing. Set in 1967, the comedy focuses on two women, backyard buddies who have made a habit of sitting on the patio and spying on their neighbor to pass the time. When even the near-constant surveillance is not enough to satisfy their curiosity, Bev enlists the help of her son, Benny, to spy on the woman.

As time passes, Geri and Bev learn quite a bit about problems in the neighbor’s house — infidelity, substance abuse, domestic violence — and maybe even a thing or two about troubles in their own homes.

“This becomes the meaning of their lives,” says Hasty. “It’s about voyeurism. It’s about minding someone else’s business in a very funny way.”

And while the humor is plentiful, “We’re not quite sure how we feel when we laugh,” says Hasty, echoing Zarko’s statements on the dark comedy.

It was about this time last year when Zarko first read “Lawnchairs,” winner of the prestigious Jerry Kaufman Award for Best Play of 2009. He and Hasty began a series of meetings and dinners, discussing the play and collaborating on all facets of the production from casting to rewrites.

“Working on a new play, the playwright and director have to be in alignment,” Hasty says. “It’s like having two supportive parents for the child. David Zarko really understood my play. He’s done a wonderful job making it come to life.”

That means understanding the dark places “Lawnchairs” can go while examining what happens when interest in others’ problems distracts from examination of our own.

“It’s not about the event, but our reaction to it,” Hasty says. “There’s always someone running with their coffee cup trying to keep up with the CNN truck. It’s almost a flaming thrill when it’s something embarrassing or criminal. It’s tabloid. It’s part of the human equipment to have this fevered interest in other people’s lives, but when it becomes your reason for living, it becomes a whole other thing.”

Though the patio which is so essential to the comedy shows the characters and the audience darkness in spite of the laughs, Hasty’s experience with ETC has been nothing but light. She’s thrilled with the cast, which includes Maura Malloy, Jerry Durkin, Samuel Adams and Jennifer Terrell. She appreciates the work by the designers and technicians, which has enabled her words to be turned into a place. She’s enjoyed the give and take with Zarko. And with one weekend of performances behind her, she’s gratified by the reaction of local audience members, from ticketholders who have already seen “Lawnchairs” more than once to college students offering insightful comments during a post-show talkback.

Hasty is most thankful to ETC for giving her a chance to see her words go from page to stage. Though the New York City-based playwright has written 10 plays, with off-Broadway productions and a short run on Broadway, the process is much different in New York. There are plenty of readings and workshops, pulling together a cast in jeans and t-shirts to read from a script on a set for another production, and hoping someone sees enough in the reading to bring the play to the next level. But things have been very different at ETC.

“It’s been absolute heaven to walk into this great theater, to have the actual world come to be,” she says. “I believe the play is sturdy, but to be able to put the right dressing on it, it’s heaven. I’m just thrilled with everybody. I’d love to work with them again.”

Work with them again she will. “Lawnchairs” is Hasty’s first production with ETC, but she already has a few other projects in the works. And she’s hoping this isn’t the last of ETC’s “Lawnchairs” run.

“This area could easily become a great regional spot,” says Hasty. “We could have a lot of new things happening here. I’d like to think of this as a beginning.”

ETC is holding onto the set and keeping the actors as long as possible, hoping to mount full-scale productions in other locations, including some theaters in New York.

“I’d really like to see this play move on, be published, get done around the country,” Hasty says. “You really want to aim as high as you can.”

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