4 out of 5 stars

"The Disappear" crackles with sharp wit, which playwright/director Erica Schmidt deploys to slice open the fraught dynamics of her Hollywood-elite characters -- like a drawing-room comedy that turns toward tragedy. The play's impact is limited by its familiar territory -- a self-centered movie director alienates his equally talented wife by aggressively putting his work (and young actresses) first -- while some plot turns (including the climactic one) can seem like standard devices. But the sparkling cast, led by Hamesh Linklater (a charming villain) and Miriam Silverman (just charming) as the power couple at the center, still make each funny and sad moment vivid. — Adam Z. Horvath

At Audible's Minetta Lane Theater, through Feb. 15; audiblexminetta.com. (Review date: Jan. 15, 2026)