In his Director's Note for the "Grace" program, Slayden Scott Yarbrough writes, "Why spend so much time and energy on one playwright's work when there are at least three or four other people who have written plays in the last 3,000 years? The reason is that Craig writes plays that are dangerous in ways that sneak up on you and linger for days. His plays look at the rules we create for ourselves in order to live our lives as best we can and then proceed to smash those rules to get at the terrifying, wondrous, lonely and unsettling reality of what it means to be human."

This description makes it clear why Wright is a favorite at Third Rail. After all, the company's name refers in part to those topics of conversation that are considered "off limits" in polite social gatherings. The first Third Rail production, Wright's "Recent Tragic Events," used the tragedy of 9/11 to ask unsettling questions about chance and choice and, even more boldly, injected a lot of humor into the proceedings.

Last season's "The Pavilion" was a gentler piece, with a romantic and bittersweet tone, but still quite startling in the way it posed questions about forgiveness and the individual's place in the big ol' universe.

"Grace" takes on the subjects of religion and faith (or lack thereof) with the same "Wright" touch, meaning that the play raises more questions than it answers, and the story is full of surprises and humor. It's part knee-slapper, part brainteaser, and part tearjerker.

It's also selling fast! Thanks to things like being mentioned "Best Theatre Ensemble" by Portland Monthly magazine, subscription and single-ticket sales are brisk! Subscribers have claimed 25% of available seats, and "Grace" is already one-third sold, days before opening!

Don't wait -- call now for reservations to what is sure to be another electrifying evening of theatre from Third Rail.