At Theater 555 in Hell's Kitchen, NYC: Marilu Henner and Shannon Purser Face Off in "The Ask"

The Ask, a new off-Broadway play by Matthew Freeman, has been running at Theater 555 since Oct. 6. It is a strictly limited engagement that closes Nov. 22, and the run time is 90 minutes. Jessi D. Hill directs.

The setting is an Upper West Side apartment. Greta, a longtime donor with strong progressive views, is played by Marilu Henner, known for Taxi and Evening Shade. Her visitor is Tanner, a young ACLU fundraiser sent to secure a significant gift, played by Shannon Purser of Stranger Things and Riverdale.

The two start out sharing ideals. As the meeting goes on, unexpected divisions surface, and the play uses them to expose the cultural and emotional fault lines between generations. The production's tagline sums it up: one meeting, two generations, and a fight neither side sees coming.

Theater 555 is at 555 West 42nd Street. Tickets are sold through the venue's page, linked from the show's website, and there is a separate form for group inquiries. Using the code ASK39 brings tickets down to $39, from values of up to $129.

At 90 minutes, it fits easily into an evening around dinner. It suits anyone who wants to see two screen favorites up close in a talky, politically charged two-hander.