From left, Joe Szalinski, Laura Crago and Stefan Altomari perform in Butler Little Theatre's "The Lifespan of a Fact." Submitted Photo

The curtain will rise this weekend for Butler Little Theatre’s production of “The Lifespan of a Fact,” which the cast boasts is a hilarious show with a philosophical plot.

The play chronicles the true story of a newly graduated fact-checker who is tasked with reviewing an essay by a well-renowned writer for a magazine. The two continually butt heads over the importance of facts and artistic license, according to director Philip Ball.

“It’s the balance between reality and art,” Ball said. “It’s all an ethical exercise.”

Stefan Altomari, who portrays writer John D’Agata, said despite its title, the play is not a political commentary or serious piece.

“I want people to know it is a comedy. I don’t want them to think it’s heavy-handed, dramatic fare,” he said. “(My character) writes this beautiful piece, and then when the fact-checker gets involved, he starts stripping away things that might be judged or be eyebrow-raising.”

“It’s focused on literary fact versus literary art, weighing truth and fiction,” Ball added.

He said the cast of three, which also includes Joe Szalinski and Laura Crago, has meshed well.

“With (Altomari), he gives a nice anchor to the talent base we have. (Crago) has a connection to (her) character’s drive. (Szalinski), I think the big interest for him is he studied creative nonfiction, which has an immediate tie with (Altomari’s) character, but he’s the fact-checker,” he said.

Ball hopes audiences will walk away with a new perspective and have discussions about the play’s subject matter.

“I just hope that it’s an honest provocation of thought. That people will be more inclined to enjoy what it’s brought to mind,“ he said.

“It’ll make you laugh, and it’ll make you think,” Altomari said.