Theater: “Dig,” new play by Theresa Rebeck

Playwright Theresa Rebeck is such a versatile talent, she could make a play set in a plant store fun to watch. Fortunately that’s exactly what she’s done in “Dig,” her new dramedy currently in previews at Primary Stages at 59 e 59.

Roger (Jeffrey Bean), a man approaching late middle age, owns such a store in Somewheres-Ville, Ohio. His shop is visited by his buddy Lou (the funny, aging-hippie-type Triney Sandoval) who helps with the accounting. There’s also Everett (Greg Keller), a forty-something stoner who drives the delivery truck for Roger. Sitting off in the corner is Megan (Andrea Syglowski, pictured), Lou’s troubled daughter. She’s currently in AA and seems to be running away from something. Roger takes her on as an unpaid assistant in the store.

As the play unfolds, we see the nature of her issues, the major one being a crime she may have committed, as well as her increasingly close relationship with Roger which may or may not become more than platonic.

The acting is uniformly excellent, with the biggest plaudits going to Syglowski (a ringer for the young Kim Novak) who can go from hot to cold in seconds, and Bean as a nerd who seems to connect better with plants than people. Kudos, too, to scenic designers Christopher and Justin Swader who blanket the stage with orchids, lilies, African violets and other assorted houseplants.

And of course there’s the wit and wisdom of Rebeck herself, the woman who brought us “Seminar” with Alan Richman, “Bernhardt/Hamlet” with Janet McAteer, and the TV show “Smash,” with Megan Hilty. If she helped bring fame and fortune to these performers, think of what she could do for a heart-leaf philodendron.

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