‘Tis the season for stories about things that go bump in the night. First Look Buffalo Theatre Company and Buffalo United Artists collaborated to produce the world premiere of Buffalo gal playwright Bella Poynton. The Girl in the Washroom is a time-hopping thriller that also examines gay love in the ‘60s and today. In brief, the more it changes, the more it stays the same.

Poynton’s plot is fixed in one New York City hotel room. (Think Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite with a sinister side.) The first couple to stumble in is Daisy, an heiress and socialite, accompanied by mystery man Stanley, skillfully played by Stefanie Warnick and Paige Cummings respectively. Daisy is drunk and ditzy and was just having a close encounter of a nasty kind with a man in an alley. Stanley sees this and pulls the offending man away…who is killed in the process. While hiding out in the hotel room, they discover more about each other and themselves. As was the way of the times, a police officer (Bob Rusch) knocks at the door, asks precious few questions, and Stanley is hauled away in cuffs. Of course the woman-living-as-a-man is the social deviant who killed the man attacking Daisy. It couldn’t be that Daisy herself had other interests in partners, with her prominent family and connections? Act 1 is a glimpse into what queer life was in that era: not embraced by upper echelon society, quiet and furtive, under-cover and always suspect.

Make the 40+ years timehop to now. Warnick comes back as Daphne, the social media influencer with a ghost hunter program and Cummings is Sage, her out and proud videographer and quasi secret partner. Daphne is here to capture the spirit of Daisy who has famously haunted this room and Daphne endeavors to dramatically build her list of followers with a major sighting. And so they wait, they talk, they kiss, they spar a bit…until the knock at the door this time brings Dylan (Rusch again), a production assistant with snacks and speculation. This sparks more conversation about what is and what people think and why it should or shouldn’t matter….when the energy shifts in the room, and to paraphrase Stephen King, “Here’s Daisy.”

Poynton’s script has a very Twilight Zone feel to it, save for one scene that’s more graphic, and it’s the thoughtful kind of thriller that is extra scary because it feels so real. (Alas, ‘fraidy cat that I am, poor Theatre Companion’s hand may have been clutched quite tightly.) Warnick and Cummings bring true humanity to their roles. The ditzy heiress and ambitious social media star share more than a jonesing for cigarettes: they are conflicted by their sexuality and perception of acceptance. Cummings brings tremendous depth to her roles here. Her character is the voice of reason in both acts and she plays Stanley and Sage distinctively and solidly. Spoiler alert: when the spirit enters and exits her being, Cummings is frightfully fabulous. This was fun to watch.) Ditto Warnick and her portrayal of two vastly different social climbers from two eras.

Kay Johnson made wise costume choices that punctuate the times and their connection. Director Mike Doben and light and set/sounds designers David Guagliano and Sage Becker made good use of the space and the theatre magic that made the scary stuff come together so well.

This is good, important work, and the BUA/First Look Buffalo partnership is laudable. One note: the printed program cites important trigger warnings which is appreciated. Please note that if anyone is in need, 988 is the best and fastest way to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Here in WNY, you’re promptly connected to the local Crisis Services team. Please know that you are never alone.

The Girl in the Washroom runs around two hours with a 10-minute intermission, until November 8. For details and tickets, visit http://www.firstlookbuffalo.