This tragicomic one-act tackles a topic that has been explored extensively in American literature for the past century or so: the soul-killing monotony of a business career. However, Tens and Twenties adds a sinister Beckettian twist by setting its middle-aged male protagonist inside a box where he has agreed to enclose himself for ten years straight in exchange for lifelong financial security. Writer Hardigan brings an effectively dry and absurd sensibility to the comedy part of the equation, (a female character dreams of visiting "Vatican City or Graceland"), but the dramatic side of the story never manages to be engaging. Characters bemoan absent children/parents/lovers, but it's never explained who they are or why their absence is so wrenching. Consequently, it's hard to care. —Ben Mathis-Lilley

• Where: Spotlight Lounge at Pace University
• When: Sun, Aug 15 at 9:30 p.m.; Sat, Aug 21 at 1 p.m.; Tue, Aug 24 at 4:45 p.m.; Wed, Aug 25 at 5:30 p.m.; Thu, Aug 26 at 11:15 p.m.