Each of these five exquisitely crafted short works by American playwright Will Eno explores the private grief and wonder behind the public face in times of suffering, small (lonely singles recording their personal ads for a video dating service) or large (war, a plane crash). Director Becky Shrimpton wisely puts Eno’s witty and endlessly quotable text front and centre in these monologues and two-handers. Actors Maryanne Renzetti and Brad Duffy both have the crack timing and emotional range to pull it off, and Duffy’s characterizations are particularly nuanced: his hilarious solo turn as a heartbroken coach trying to give a press conference at the end of his team’s losing season is the highlight. These plays will make you laugh, make you feel, and remind you that “we should learn to look at each other harder.” A gem.

At Carousel Theatre on September 15 (8 p.m.), 16 (10:45 p.m.), 17 (7 p.m.), 18 (5:45 and 10:30 p.m.), and 19 (2 p.m.)