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The Know Theatre of Cincinnati is in its 14th season of production and has housed a wide variety of performances such as poetry, documentary, live band and musicals, to name a few.

But their presentation of “Collapse” is a much more traditional display of theater.

Only four cast members and one backdrop. No sing-alongs, elaborate costumes or funny character shoes — not even a crazed villain.

There is, however, a man coping with post- traumatic stress disorder in a humorous but tragic way, an impotent sex addict and an unseen — but very consequential — drug dealer who goes by the name of Bulldog.

And this goes without mentioning the highly emotive wife who strains to heal her husband, and a recently homeless, somewhat disruptive sister.

“Collapse” has received a League of Cincinnati Theatre Award for its leading lady, Annie Fitzpatrick. In the play, Fitzpatrick portrays a woman, Hannah, who is desperately trying to hold her life together while her husband, David, suffers from PTSD.

After surviving the collapse of the I-35 Bridge (the disaster in Minneapolis in August 2007 where 13 people died and 145 others were injured), David has trouble getting back into the daily routine of his life.

He rarely goes to work, and Hannah believes he’s an alcoholic, when in actuality he waters the family plant with his leftover beer.

Life for Hannah and David (Brian Isaac Phillips) unexpectedly and uncontrollably gets worse when her sister Susan (Torrie Wiggins) shows up with a fairly large suitcase.

Susan’s open-minded way of life rubs off onto David, creating even more drama for Hannah, as well as a couple of life threatening situations for all.

Despite life threatening situations, “Collapse” is laugh-out-loud funny from the very first scene. An impotent sex addict somehow manages to come between Hannah and David, yet ultimately facilitates their recovery.

Then there’s the mysterious bag Susan drags along that brings the four characters together, while leaving two of them hanging from a bridge.

Despite the comedic feel throughout, Collapse ultimately offers a hard-learned life lesson. Trailing the hilarious journey of four lives concludes in a crucial and moving final scene that will leave audiences pondering the triumph of their own quandaries.

The Know Theatre provides a personal and laid-back experience for any audience. Stop in before the show for a drink at the bar or a bag of popcorn and bring it into the auditorium with you. Sit in the front row and you’ll be close enough to the actors
to touch.

If you haven’t been to the Know Theatre before, make it a point to go, and see Collapse while you’re at it.

The play runs until March 3.