At a glance

“Evelyn in Purgatory” Eclipse Theatre Company 670 Lakeview Plaza Blvd., Suite F, Worthington 614-881-0382, www. eclipsetheatrecompany.org 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through March 25 $18, or “pay what you can” (or a nonperishable food donation to the Worthington Resource Pantry) tonight best she can.”

When a disgruntled student accuses Evelyn of kissing the track-team captain in her classroom, she is suspended pending investigation.

“Evelyn is adamant that this accusation isn’t true,” Anderson said. “She had warned the disgruntled student that if she didn’t improve her grades, she wouldn’t graduate.”

Initially, Evelyn expects the accusation to be dismissed quickly.

“She thinks the accusation is ridiculous because the student is a known liar,” Anderson said. “But as the hearing is delayed, as Evelyn talks to attorneys and the teacher’s union and tries to get people to write letters on her behalf, she gets angry with the system.”

Supervised in the room by a young proctor (Erin Haught) and occasionally questioned by the off-stage voice of Dr. Atwood (Rachel Belenker), head of the disciplinary panel, Evelyn’s group includes outspoken English teacher Roberta Burke (Colleen Cunningham), young science teacher Toby Fleming (Jeff Krull), bombastic gym teacher Fred DiSalvo (Reed Slevin) and art teacher Lila Wadkins (Phyllis Heffner).

“Lila is a self-described old hippie a few years away from retirement,” Heffner said. “She was very devoted to her students. It worries her that she’s spending so many months away from them.”

When Evelyn joins the group, she forms a bond with Lila — one of several unlikely alliances that lead to unexpected developments during