Despite all of the stories that have been written, songs sung, and poems composed, we never seem to tire of love. It’s high-stakes poker where the odds are always stacked against us. When left holding only a single high card, or maybe even a pair, we continue to barter with our emotions, always refusing to fold. 

Is our faith in love a testament to the tenacity of the human heart, or proof positive that we’re incapable of learning? Must reason always take a backseat to emotion? All of this is exquisitely explored in Joi Smith and Danica Carlson’s production, “Love,” currently featured at the Players’ Ring.

“Love” is a collaborative performance consisting of pieces penned by more than a dozen authors, with each performed by different actors. In addition to the stage performances, the show features a rotating cadre of local artists who exhibit their work in the lobby of the Players’ Ring, and various local musicians who provide entertainment before and during intermission of the show.

With so many contributors, the question is how to unify the varied voices and experiences into a cohesive performance. Under the direction of Smith and Carlson, ‘Love’ successfully meets this challenge.

The pieces are categorized into the oh-so-familiar aspects of falling in and out of love: “Hello,” “I love you,” “I’m sorry,” and “Goodbye.” Within this framework, there’s one couple’s story, written and performed by Scott Caple and Meredith Freeman-Caple, that introduces each theme and runs through the entire performance. Both their story and the categories themselves provide a narrative thread. It’s an effective framing device that is neither too strict nor too subtle.

Color is also used to tie together the various performances, with every actor dressed in black and red. While the black dominates, red can be found in the subtlety of a necktie, the hint of sock, a giant corsage, and the crimson background of a Lost Boys T-shirt.

The linking of red and black, or passion and despair, is introduced in the opening piece. Danica Carlson and Andrew Fling’s performances of Michael Berry’s “Death & Cupid” explores the opposed drives towards love and death and how difficult it can be to recognize the differences. Some—say, Freud—would say that we are driven toward love as a means of avoiding death, and as such these drives are intertwined, inseparable, and oftentimes interchangeable, as this piece reveals.

The show features strong performances and writing across the board. Constance Witman’s performance of Jacqueline Benson’s “Pickles: A Monologue” had the audience laughing throughout as she told the tale of meeting her husband, and the lengths that she went through to keep and preserve her love. Emotional performances by Carlson, Christine Penney and Jessica Michaud explore the emptiness of loves lost, the ones that we let get away, and the ones we wished for and never quite had.

And in spite of the black and red color scheme of the show, there’s quite a lot of gray. Will MacDonald’s performance of G. Matthew Gaskell’s untitled piece is about an explosive relationship where the woman, for some reason, chooses to stay when really the best thing to do is leave. Charley Lawrence’s “Disney Ain’t Got Nothing on Love,” has Rich Harris telling the story of Lawrence’s grandparents, a hot-tempered Sicilian immigrant and a second-generation black machinist who, despite their love for one another, could not remain together. And yet they could not stay wholly apart.

Like its eponymous sentiment, the performances in “Love” can be emotional, uncomfortable, beautiful and complicated. The collaborative nature of the show represents a true cross-section of our entire community. These tales are familiar to us, and we know these stories, if not the actual people sharing, writing, singing, or visualizing them. What better way to spend Valentine’s Day than to seek the warmth of community and local theater? If you’re looking for a way to reconnect, all you need is “Love.”

“Love” is at The Players’ Ring on Friday, Feb. 12, and Saturday, Feb. 13, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. To reserve tickets, visit www.playersring.org or call 603-436-8123. Proceeds will be donated to SASS and A Safe Place.