Eastern Washington University Theatre opens its fall season with “This Random World”, Steven Dietz’s bittersweet exploration of coincidence and connection. Directed by professor Sara Goff, the production turns everyday “what ifs” into a meditation on how people live, lose, and find meaning together.

Goff said the play feels especially timely. “It’s about missed conversations – being so close to having a connection, and it doesn’t happen,” she said. “I like the idea of thinking about accidents. Is everything chance, or is nothing chance?”

She said she was drawn to the story’s quiet humanity and the questions it raises about how people move through life. 

“I think the idea is to ask, ‘What in my life am I not experiencing because I’m so caught in my routines?’” she said. “If I leave myself more open to doubt, to uncertainty, where might my life take me?”

“This Random World” follows a series of near misses – characters who almost meet, almost connect, almost understand one another. For Goff, that subtle tension mirrors real life. “The writing does it naturally,” she said. “The characters are oblivious to what they’re missing. It’s left to the audience to wonder what’s just outside of their reach.”

Taylor Clement, a junior theatre major serving as publicity assistant and assistant stage manager, said the play is “a life full of almosts … funny and heartfelt about the people who pass through our lives without us even knowing.”

Clement said the rehearsal process, though condensed into four weeks, brought the cast and crew closer. 

“It’s really about the bond you create with your crew and cast,” she said. “Theatre is about finding meaning through people – it’s what makes good art.”

The production’s design, primarily led by William Ledbetter, reflects the play’s meditative tone. Goff said the creative team drew inspiration from labyrinths – symbols of reflection and self-discovery.

“Early on, we were inspired by labyrinths,” she said. “That meditative process of getting to the center became a metaphor for the play itself.” Through simple transitions and interconnected vignettes, the stage transforms into multiple worlds. 

“The audience gets to see how things are connected that the characters never realize,” Clement said. 

Harley Cate, a sophomore music education major, said the show’s simplicity makes its emotional message even stronger.

“You never really know what someone’s going through,” Cate said. “This play reminds you that even the smallest moments can mean something big.”

For Goff, directing “This Random World” is both a creative and educational experience. “We create a project – on time, on budget, and with a team,” she said. “It’s about bringing people with different skill sets together to create a unified vision.”

Goff said a win is measured not just in performance quality but in collaboration. 

“A win is that we have an audience, that the performance comes together, and that they have each other’s backs,” she said. “A win for the program is that people see what we’re doing and that visibility for our students continues to grow.”

Directing the play, she said, has also changed her perspective on life. 

“I used to believe things happened for a reason,” she said. “Now I see life as a game of chance. I’ve learned to accept that I can’t control everything but I can control my priorities and goals.”

When asked to summarize the production in three words, Goff said, “Soulful. Soothing. Funny.”