Down to Chance may be a two-hander, but it feels like a cast of dozens. Set against the backdrop of the 1964 Anchorage earthquake – a 9.2-magnitude disaster that claimed over 125 lives – the play blends historical fact with theatrical flair, resulting in something unexpectedly uplifting.

The annual town parade is underway, shadowed by fears of a J.C. Penney “invasion” threatening local shops. At radio station KNI, the star reporter is out in the field, leaving a skeleton crew of green technicians to keep the airwaves alive. Then, at 5:36 pm, the quake hits.

In blackout, Ellie Jay Cooper and Robert Merriam arrive with torches, navigating a stage cluttered with hats, coats, microphones, and other props. Between them, they inhabit a kaleidoscope of characters, switching roles at a breathless pace. It’s a display of precision writing and razor-sharp acting.