Sometimes the universe just opens up and the stars align themselves in an artistic way that fulfills both pragmatic and aesthetic needs.

Such is the case with Lakewood-based playwright Isabella Russell-Ides' work "Coco and Gigi," now in premiere at The Festival of Independent Theatres at the Bath House Cultural Center under the auspices of Dallas' award-winning Echo Theatre.

Almost a "Waiting for Godot" meets "The Indian Loves the Bronx," its dual cast characters speak in entrancing poetic rhythms, weaving a sharply articulated text full of as much thought-inspiring "soft space" as detailed metaphor and plot structure. Time upends itself as duplicate scenes with overlapping dialogue tease the audience's perceptions of reality and cultural context within a naturalistic setting dealing with society's outcasts.

Through clearly defined conflict and resolution, the tale repeats itself, sort of. It illuminates new possibilities, sort of. Audiences hold their collective breath and hardly stir they are so intrigued by the collision of the two closely aligned yet unrelated worldviews presented.

It's quantum physics for the stage — an eye-, ear-, and mindful floating at the thorny edges of cultural imagination, with snippets of great works of literature and current events entwined unexpectedly.