LEWISTON — Get ready for nine months of laughter.

A blundering fertility doctor mistakenly implants the embryo of a latte-sipping liberal couple into the womb of a NRA-cardholding conservative family in the East Coast premiere of the timely and provocative new comedy, Eric Pfeffinger’s “Human Error,” playing Jan. 25–Feb. 3, at The Public Theatre, 31 Maple St.

Imagine two families who, under normal circumstances, would never choose to be in the same room with each other, now having to spend nine months together attempting to become friends for the good of the child. This exciting new script threads a delicate needle between satire and think piece, social commentary and goofball comedy.

The message of the show isn’t what side is right and which side is wrong but about the places we might have common ground — such as the fear of being a new parent. Like flipping between NPR and Fox News, playwright Pfeffinger pits NRA-loving conservatives against liberal yogis and forces each to step outside their comfort zone and acknowledge that there are other people in the world who are not just like them. The play, says Director Christopher Schario, asks the politically timely question, “Will our similarities ever outweigh our differences?”

The show features a cast of exceptional comic actors from New York, several who have previously appeared at The Public Theatre. Starring as the NPR listening liberal couple Madelyn and Keenan are Laura Baranik and Terrell Wheeler; the right-wing side of the country will be represented by Joe Gately and Heather Dilly as Jim and Heather; and rounding out the cast as the hilarious fertility doctor will be Dale Place.

Baranik appeared in Bedlam Theater’s award-winning off-Broadway production “Sense & Sensibility” and Wheeler has been performing in regional theaters throughout the country as well as on television in “Blue Bloods,” “Madam Secretary,” “The Code” and “Elementary.” Gately was last seen at The Public Theatre in “Good People” and Dilly will be recognizable to TPT audiences from her work in “Ripcord,” “Love/Sick,” “Indoor Outdoor,” “Gun-Shy” and “Secrets of a Soccer Mom.” Place last appeared on Broadway with Mary Louise Parker in “Heisenberg,” as well in plays at Lincoln Center and Shakespeare in the Park and has a long history of comic roles at The Public Theatre.

Set design is by Kit Mayer, lighting by Heather Crocker and sound by John Morrison.

The Public Theatre will continue its free pre-show events on opening night with a beer tasting, compliments of Baxter Brewing, and there will be a pre-show wine-tasting in the lobby before the performance on Thursday, Jan. 31, sponsored by Roopers.

Show times for “Human Error” are: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 24-26 and Jan. 31-Feb. 2; 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27 and Feb. 3; and there will be a 3 p.m. matinee offered Saturday, Feb. 2.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $17 for groups and $5 for folks 18 and under. For tickets, visit thepublictheatre.org or call 207-782-3200. 

The cast of “Human Error” at The Public Theatre are getting ready for opening weekend. In this still shot, seated from left are Dale Place, Laura Baranik and Heather Dilly; standing are Terrell Wheeler and Joe Gately.