The Long Wharf Theatre opens the world premiere of David Schulner's An Infinite Ache Dec. 19 on the intimate Stage II. The company's acting aritistic director Greg Leaming directs.

In An Infinite Ache, lonely twenty-somethings Hope and Charles meet for a blind date set up by a mutual friends. The date doesn't go well, but as they prepare to part, the two are suddenly whisked through all the possible paths their relationship could take. Schulner developed An Infinite Ache at the Cape Cod Theatre Project.

Playwright Schulner is warming up for quite a year. Not only is he creating a new Wright Brothers musical with Elizabeth Swados and an adaptation of "Sister Carrie" for the stage, but he'll see This Thing of Darkness (co-written with Craig Lucas) performed by Off-Broadway's Atlantic Theatre and Isaac, premiered by San Francisco's A Traveling Jewish Theatre.

Angel Desai is Hope with Peter A. Smith as Charles. Desai's credits include Off-Broadway's Angelique, The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, Stop Kiss and Henry VIII.

Designing An Infinite Ache are Marjorie Bradley Kellogg (sets), David Zinn (costumes), Dan Kotlowitz (lighting) and Favian Obispo (sound). Tickets are $45-$15. For reservations, call (203) 787-4282.

— By Christine Ehren