Well the Missus and I trundled out to Watertown last night to catch A Number at the New Rep and say, it was . . . headspinning.

In this stark and startling drama, a son confronts his emotionally distant father, learning a horrifying truth about his past. As anger and abandonment issues emerge, a mystery is exposed, revealing a disturbing incident involving a number of “others.” A Number is an illuminating and provocative work by internationally acclaimed playwright Caryl Churchill in which she examines individuality and the theory of nature versus nurture.

It’s all about cloning . . . and conflict . . . and identity, with dialogue that spurts forth in broken sentences that start and stop and restart and restop and eventually collapse into themselves.

Dale Place is terrific as the father, and Nael Nacer (who we last saw in a heartwrenching turn in the Lyric Stage’s Intimate Apparel) is fabulous in his depiction of a double-helix trifecta of characters.

The production, directed by Clay Hopper, runs through November 1st.

Preview:

A captivating night of theater. Do yourself a favor and see it.