The Hypothetical Theatre Company will present the New York premiere of Quake by Melanie Marnich, Feb. 13-March 10, at the Sol Goldman Y on East 14th Street (former home of Jewish Repertory Theatre).

Quake takes a comic journey in which a young woman, Lucy, follows the curve of the world as she searches for the love of her life which she likes to call, "the big love." In a series of surreal, distorted affairs, she fails to reconcile her driving need for ideal love with its reality. On her journey, she is distracted by her obsessive admiration of a "black widow," a serial killer so famous for her revenge methods that she is America's Most Wanted Woman. "That woman" coaches Lucy through many relationships that guide her to "the big love."

Quake was first produced at the Louisville Humana Festival last February. Lucy will be played by Dannah Chaifetz and "That Woman" will be performed by Jacqueline Bowman. Lucy's quest is supported by an ensemble of actors playing multiple roles in the play, which has been called an "escape from realism to poetry" by director Amy Feinberg. The ensemble includes Irene McDonnell, Jonathan Gentry, Robert Bowen Jr., John Kevin Kennedy and Matt Seidman.

Melanie Marnich is best known for Blur, a comedy that premiered at Manhattan Theater Club last spring. Blur was about a young teenager named Dot, who's life is knocked off balance when she is diagnosed as growing slowly blind. Marnich, who has previously won two Samuel Goldwyn writing awards, has also penned Tallgrass Gothic, Beautiful Again and Season.

This past fall, when Feinberg directed a favorably-received the West Coast Premiere of Quake at Hollywood's Court Theatre. Neal Weaver of L.A. Weekly called Lucy, "a naive, spunky female Candide" and commending Feinberg's comedic sensibility. Tickets for Quake can be purchased at the box office at The Hypothetical Theatre, 344 East 14th Street or by calling Smartixx (212) 206-1515.

— by Keith Lazarus