In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play

If the notion of a night of theater based on a moment in medical history sounds about as, um, stimulating as a cold shower, you clearly haven’t heard the buzz about In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play. Turns out, the details of female sexuality were still pretty foggy back in the late 1800s — so much so that physicians found nothing creepy about treating the ladies to a session with Ol’ Buzzy to help ‘em calm down. A touchy topic, to be sure, but one handled with humor and tenderness by New York playwright Sarah Ruhl, who saw her 2009 drama about intimacy and fulfillment snag a Tony Award nomination for Best Play and become a 2010 Pulitzer Prize finalist. Under the steady hand of associate artistic director Laura Kepley, the critically acclaimed work begins previews at Cleveland Play House on April 13; opening night is April 18. But don’t go expecting a salacious sex romp. Instead, Kepley promises a play that is “adventurous, bold, surprising, and incredibly funny.” While the premise — that women who were anything other than passive and nonsexual were suffering from a medical condition that could be treated with a physician-induced orgasm — is based on historical fact, Kepley says the story line is sweet and innocent. “The vibrators are a catalyst for a much greater awakening, and for themes of connectivity and release. My sense of what audiences will find most shocking is how funny, moving, and contemporary this story actually is.” Performances continue through Sunday May 13 at the Second Stage at Cleveland Play House. Ticket prices are $49 to $69, and less for students. Get them by phone, online, or at the Playhouse Square box office. And as you’ve probably figured out by this point: Mature audiences only, please.