David Muse, artistic director of the Studio Theatre, has begun a new initiative, the Studio Lab Series, dedicated to “stripped-down productions” of new plays. The first is Duncan Macmillan’s “Lungs,” and if the productions that follow are of the same quality, the Studio Lab Series will surely be around for a long time. A man and woman appear, standing in the checkout line at IKEA. The man casually brings up the issue of having a baby. The high-strung woman, who is totally unprepared for even a discussion of a child, much less the reality of one, goes into orbit.

As the play progresses and the couple debate the pros and cons of having a child, the effect it will have not just on their lives but on the planet, other issues arise: how both characters relate to one another, how they relate to each others’ parents, what they value.