I had the opportunity to see Austin Peay State University’s production of “We’re Okay, We’re Okay, We’re All Gonna Be Okay.” Written by award-winning playwright Gina Femia and directed by Sara Anderson, the story follows four young adults as they navigate their own personal battles with grief.

Surprisingly, the script is very funny despite the heaviness of the subject matter. Femia finds humor in awkward conversations and apartment squabbles, as well as in the absurdity of trying to stage a two-person production of Hamlet (maybe, or maybe not, in space). The humor never feels disrespectful to real-life battles with trauma; rather, it reflects on how people often cope.

Paired with deliberate long silences, I took note of a stop-and-start rhythm in the show, drawing me into the emotional world of its characters. The production had a raw, lived-in feel. And yet, despite the strength of these choices, the final blackout arrived unexpectedly quickly. The way the play ended felt like I only got the first half of a story.

The romance between Zeus and Aster was sweet, but I feel the transition from irritating roommates to lovers needed a few more scenes to be a fulfilling relationship arc.

Still, this production captured the messy, nonlinear nature of healing. It did not offer a neat, dramatic climax, but rather a series of small emotional victories. It’s quite clear that these characters are not okay, but viewers are left with hope that they will be.

The ensemble Alessandra Torres, Logan Taylor, Presley Boyne and Ross Evan Meadors brought sincerity and vulnerability to the production. Their performances grounded the production and showed the depth of talent within APSU’s Department of Theatre & Dance. Despite its few flaws, ‘We’re Okay, We’re Okay, We’re All Gonna Be Okay’ was a heartfelt and engaging addition to this season’s lineup.