Oct. 5-13

Actors Theatre
316 W. Main St.
theatre502.org
$15; 8 p.m.

The New York Times says it’s “inordinately delicate” and “extraordinarily beautiful,” at times resembling “a Beckett play recast as a mumblecore movie.” Well, you had me at “mumblecore” …

“The Aliens,” by Obie Award-winner Annie Baker, tells the story of three misfits who bond over an appreciation of Charles Bukowski and, more importantly, their shared alienation in the world. Set in the break area behind a Vermont coffee shop, the minimalist three-man show hinges on sparse yet poignant dialogue dotted with striking stretches of silence. According to director Mike Brooks, “This play takes its time and gives the audience a chance to deeply observe a tiny human evolution.” Sounds like a fitting pursuit for the innovative Theatre [502]. —Sarah Kelley