Onstage: Vigils

Know Theatre of Cincinnati recently presented a show that dealt in a heartfelt way with the emotions of loss and grief. That was Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice. Those themes are back for another production, this time a more humorous piece by playwright Noah Haidle. It’s called Vigils, and Know is offering the show’s regional premiere. Vigils is about the widow of a firefighter who is quite literally holding onto his memory: She has his soul locked in a trunk, despite the fact that he's ready to move on. Then she’s asked out on a date, and the circumstances get more complicated as she’s faced with embracing a new life or continuing to struggle with her grief. Jason Bruffy, Know Theatre's artistic director, says, “Vigils is a magical love story that comes to life onstage. Haidle tells the story in a way that is uniquely theatrical and cannot be replicated on film or television. That's what drew me to the script. There is no other place for a production of Vigils than in an intimate theatre.” As it happens, Know has precisely that — an intimate theatre where magic often happens. In case you're keeping track, this production is just the third for Haidle's script, which premiered at Chicago's prestigious Goodman Theatre in 2006 and has had one subsequent production, at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre in Washington, D.C. That’s pretty good company. Tickets at Know Theatre are very affordable, thanks to support from the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation: $12. Find showtimes, buy tickets and find nearby bars and restaurants here.