Relationships can sometimes unravel or be shaken by unexpected revelations, whether large or small, delivered in the most innocuous settings, such as a restaurant. In The Horse and Carriage, a world premiere at Prologue Theatre, a young couple enjoys their first “date night“ in months away from their three-year-old twin daughters, splurging at the Horse and Carriage neighborhood restaurant. Adelaide (Kari Ginsburg) and Jasper (Jacob Yeh) relish their freedom from Legos and juice boxes for a few hours as they banter about their lives, daily events, and expectations. What starts as mundane conversation slowly curves into deeper territory where vulnerabilities are shared, along with confessions, admissions, and unexpected realities. A lot can happen over beer and dessert selections, thanks to the intriguing script by Karin Shook, great pacing by director Jenna Place, and a terrific ensemble. Adelaide and Jasper have an easy rapport as they recall their early courtship, ponder their life choices, and fantasize about what kind of lives they could have had if only…  Their eyes linger on each other, they finish each other’s sentences, and they enjoy flirtatious interludes. Still, is their marriage as impenetrable as it appears? Jacob Yeh (Jasper) and Kari Ginsburg (Adelaide) in ‘The Horse and Carriage.’ Photo by DJ Corey Photography. Once they question why so many of their friends are getting divorced and ask each other if they’re really happy, they come to grips with unfolding realities. Sentiments ebb and flow, vulnerabilities emerge, and they reach tender moments where anything could happen. Can a relationship that looks rock solid on the surface unravel in a restaurant conversation just by asking each other whether they’re happy or “just content”? That quiver of doubt and possibility drives the show for a provocative 90 minutes — will they or won’t they blow up, make up, melt down, or emerge stronger? Jonathan Feuer’s aplomb as the Waiter fits totally into the swirling mix of emotions as he describes beers and desserts with world-class sophistication and literary finesse. Jacob Yeh’s Jasper has a sweet veneer of grinning innocence on the outside, but explosive energy rumbles just below the surface and can go boom. Kari Ginsburg plays Adelaide with a perfect blend of kindness undergirded with steel. As a stay-at-home mom, Adelaide is wrestling with her sense of self and worth, having given up her passion for writing poetry and “grown-up” activities. One gets the sense that she could teeter over the edge, but her solid inner core keeps her rooted. Ginsburg layers the nuances beautifully, toggling between quiet desperation of longing for something different, to “go somewhere and be someone,” and her current satisfying life. She’s too thankful for her blessings to feel stuck and truly adores her husband, children, and life. To quote one of the Waiter’s lines, she’s kind of “stewing in the joy of ennui.” Jonathan Feuer (the Waiter), Jacob Yeh (Jasper), and Kari Ginsburg (Adelaide) in ‘The Horse and Carriage.’ Photo by DJ Corey Photography. The couple is nestled at a center table, surrounded by the audience scattered at tables and chairs as part of the restaurant setting, so the food orders and eating all happen in real-time. They could be anyone. They could be us. We watch and listen as they come to grips with new aspects of each other and their lives, at least at the table. They listen to each other grappling in the space between fear and freedom and make promises to be different, more tolerant of each other’s quirks, more considerate. The check arrives, they pay, and they leave. But will they be different, really? Will we? The play kind of sneaks up on you as an example of human dynamics playing right in front of our eyes. Karin Shook’s play covers a lot of emotional and mental territory in a small space, which perfectly aligns with the theater company’s mission. Scenic designer and technical director Jason Tamborini (who fashioned the restaurant setting out of an open rehearsal space) is also the founding artistic director of Prologue Theatre, a new “little theater engine that could” that sprang up just before the pandemic and is still producing. Per its mission, Prologue Theatre understands that it can be difficult, at times, to begin conversations about “certain topics” and focuses on presenting theatre that can serve as that starting point. Through theatrical performance, coupled with community discussion, we strive to challenge our community to examine and discuss their views of the world and those around them. Our focus is on those who are in the process of finding their own voice. I can’t think of a better time to explore the emotional queries and potential new conversations presented in The Horse and Carriage than now. Running Time: Approximately 90 minutes with no intermission. The Horse and Carriage plays through December 19, 2024, presented by Prologue Theatre performing in its rehearsal space at 6408 Williamsburg Blvd, Arlington, VA (the Williamsburg Shopping Center). Purchase tickets ($50, inclusive of fees) online. For audience members age 16+. The program for The Horse and Carriage is online here. The Horse and Carriage Written by Karin Shook Directed by Jenna Place CAST Kari Ginsburg as Adelaide Jacob Yeh as Jasper Jonathan Feuer as Waiter