Marriage is many things, but uncomplicated isn’t one of them. Even a seemingly happy, stable couple may have unresolved issues and secrets that are dry tinder just waiting for a flame; and in Roger Rueff’s play So Many Words, that spark comes in the beguiling form of an attractive young woman who Stanley (Paul Custodio), a married and moderately successful writer, meets on a plane. It turns out she’s a fan of his work, and this leads to unexpected temptation. And that leads to problems with his wife Katherine. According to director Doug Staley, the play’s a demonstration of a fundamental truth: “You never know what goes on inside a marriage—sometimes even if it’s yours.” Staley admits he’s wanted to produce the play since reading it six years ago, but it wasn’t until he thought of casting his Theater Schmeater colleague Teri Mathews in the crucial role of Katherine that it all fell into place. “I’ve had a feeling that the parts she was getting really weren’t that challenging for her,” he says, referring to her generally small, comic, scene-stealing character roles. As to what she’ll do in this drama (through Dec. 6), we’ve got high hopes. JOHN LONGENBAUGH [Also see Kevin Phinney’s review here.] Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave., 324- 5801, www.schmeater.org. $15–$18. 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat. (except T-giving). Ends Dec. 6.

Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m. Starts: Nov. 6. Continues through Dec. 6, 2008