‘God’s Ear’ tackles tough subject artfully

From the 1980 movie “Ordinary People” to the 2005 award-winning book by Joan Didion “The Year of Magical Thinking,” writers have struggled with how the death of a family member tears the unit apart.

The off-Broadway, critically lauded play “God’s Ear” by Jenny Schwartz — billed as a comedy — comes to Rep Stage to explore that familiar terrain. The story centers on married couple Ted (Paul Morella) and Mel (Julie-Ann Elliott) and, to a degree, their young daughter Lanie, after the couple’s son drowns while at a family outing on the beach. Adding to the pain is the turmoil of watching the boy on life support before he dies, causing the couple to question their actions, their motives and their very relationship.