Black comedy isn’t for everyone, and Magnetic Theatre’s Solstice by John Crutchfield is a play that skews a little more dark than humorous. That said, it can also be heartwarming, absurd, and deeply honest.

On the website johncrutchfield.com, John says he writes plays about things that bother him, admitting that “in general, these turn out to be existential problems.” This is certainly true of Solstice, a tale of two old friends spending the “darkest night of the year” together, confronting the choices that have brought them to this particular moment.

Straight-laced Eugene (Glenn Reed) visits his friend Carlton (Scott Fisher) and finds him living the life of a starving artist in a seedy neighborhood. Carlton is unfazed by his surroundings but grows increasingly disturbed about the sudden road trip his live-in girlfriend has taken. Meanwhile, a drugged out prostitute named Sparky (Lisa M. Smith) shows up to escape her domestic situation. Each time Eugene tries to extricate himself, the chaotic reality deteriorates further.

On the surface, the list of “adult situations” included in the plot may seem like they were pulled from a hat: addiction, prostitution, abuse, suicide, etc. A little heavy? Perhaps. But these extreme situations force viewers to ask themselves difficult questions. “Which character is doing the ‘right thing’ here?”; “How loyal would I be?”; “Would I call the police or turn my back?” By drawing these parallels to the personal, the audience is tricked into exploring the deeper themes of coincidence, meaning, alienation, and human connection.

Scott Fisher’s performance was particularly nuanced as the unstable Carlton, who seeks to hang onto the good in everyone, but ultimately loses himself. Kudos, as well, to whoever included the poster for Alan Parker’s 1984 film Birdy in the set design—a subtle nod to a film featuring two friends returning from Vietnam, one with physical scars and the other struggling to keep his grasp on reality.

This isn’t to say nothing could be improved about Solstice. A few dozen instances of the words “dude” and “man” could’ve been stricken from the script, for example. And the wisdom of using sound effects for the opening of a window, but asking for substantial imagination when the characters “hear” disturbing sounds from the apartment below could be questioned.

But Magnetic Theatre creates a unique viewing experience. The theatre only seats about 40 people and drinks from the adjoining bar at Magnetic Field are permitted. Let’s just say during the more absurd plot twists you should be prepared to hear fellow audience members whispering, “Are you serious?” and guessing aloud what the characters might do next. As the only theatre in the Southeast to produce exclusively original works, no doubt that’s the kind of intimate experience the venue hopes to create.

Performances run January 19-21, 26-28, and February 2-4 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 for Thursday performances and $15 for Friday and Saturday performances. For more information, visit themagneticfield.com, call 828.668.2154, or stop by the theatre at 372 Depot Street in Asheville’s River Arts District.