Reviewed by Judy Richter
Linda (Laura Jane Bailey, who's also the show's producer) and Michael (Michael Shipley), are successful writers, and she teaches writing at a college. Both have kept daily journals for many years.
When she's diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and told she has three weeks to live, Linda gives Michael her journals and asks him to read them after her death. In turn, she asks to read his journals. He reluctantly agrees.
When they reveal that he had an affair with a woman, Abby (Emily Keyishian), at a writers colony many years ago and had apparently continued it off and on, Linda feels angry and betrayed.
After her death, Michael learns that Linda had met Abby at the writers colony before their marriage, and he learns a secret behind Linda's successful first book.
The twist in all of this is that much of what Michael wrote in his journals might have been fiction.
Michael and Linda's characters are well developed by Dietz, the actors and director Erin Gilley. Their personalities are defined in the opening scene, when the two banter in a Parisian cafe. During their conversation, Linda insists the best rock song ever is "Piece of My Heart," sung by Janis Joplin. Michael is equally adamant that John Lennon's rendition of "Twist and Shout" is the best ever. Only in a later scene is it revealed that the two had just met at that cafe.
The enigmatic Abby is not as carefully delineated either in the script or in Keyishian's performance.
The barebones but workable set is by Jesse Ploog with effective lighting by Dan Garrett. Costumes are by Patricia Austin and sound by Marc Blinder.
This intriguing "Fiction" runs just under two hours with one intermission.