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Charlie Bauer and Nikki Marie star in Evelyn-Claire Smith's dark comedy at The Zephyr Theatre.

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Small Burden Productions will present the world premiere of ARGUMENTS! a new one-act dark comedy written and directed by Evelyn-Claire Smith.

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ARGUMENTS! (Or, A Play For Smokers) follows the rise and fall of a relationship while asking: Is the role of a muse inherently submissive?

Alex and Alma are in love-with each other, but not so much with their life. That changes when Alma lands the job of her dreams. Set in a brick-walled apartment in Hell's Kitchen, New York City, the play centers on Alex (Charlie Bauer), who is deeply in love with his partner, the ambitious and artistic Alma (Nikki Marie). Over the course of five acts, they learn about each other (and themselves) through a series of arguments that illuminate questions of intimacy, addiction, ambition, and sacrifice. Ultimately, the play asks: How much would you give to someone who asks?

Throughout the performance, two musicians (Spurgeon Rice on keys and Aric Kline on trumpet) remain onstage as emotional counterparts to Alex and Alma. Performing a score improvised live each night, they embody the characters' inner thoughts, fears, dreams, and desires, expressing everything the couple cannot bring themselves to say aloud.

Written and directed by Evelyn-Claire Smith, assisted directed by Mina Kess, featuring lighting design by Devin Harris.

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/ARGUMENTS-To-Make-World-Premiere-at-Hollywood-Fringe-Festival-20260602)._