At New Jewish Theatre, “The Wanderers” drops audiences into two marriages on the edge — one inside Brooklyn’s cloistered Hasidic world, the other in the freewheeling literary scene — and asks how love survives when faith, ambition and desire collide. Anna Ziegler’s drama, beautifully staged on a split runway set, lingers long after the curtain falls.

Two couples, two worlds

Schmuli and Esther are members of the Salmar community, a sect of Hasidism. We meet them at their wedding, where they are dancing, but not together. The scene quickly shifts to their bedroom, where Schmuli demonstrates his shyness and his unwavering commitment to tradition. Esther is more relaxed, ready for what comes next — a difference that will later create deep conflict.

The other couple, Abe and Sophie, are both novelists. Abe won a Pulitzer Prize and two National Book Awards before turning 30, while Sophie’s meticulously researched book went unnoticed. Abe is elated when he receives an email from Hollywood star Julia Cheever, whom he has admired for years. The attention begins an emotional correspondence that soon threatens his marriage.

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Staging intimacy and distance

In Reiko Huffman’s scenic design, the stage consists of two small platforms at opposite ends of a narrow runway that splits the theater down the middle. Like the couples who occupy them, the platforms are far apart and yet connected.

Director Robert Quinlan cleverly uses the space between the platforms to chart the development of Abe and Julia’s relationship as they exchange emails. At first, devices separate them — a laptop and a tablet — but as their bond intensifies, those props disappear and the physical distance shrinks.

A cast that fully commits

The members of the excellent NJT cast are fully invested in their roles. Joel Moses captures not only Abe’s charm and self-assurance but also the yearning that is fulfilled by his correspondence with Julia. Wendy Renee Greenwood’s Sophie is Abe’s intellectual equal but lacks the confidence that came with his success.

Maggie Wininger gives Julia the poise and bearing of a star, adding depth that makes Abe’s entanglement believable. Jade Cash makes Esther’s struggle heartbreaking, showing how her modest attempts to influence Schmuli lead to devastating consequences.

Bryce A. Miller, who played a Hasidic character in NJT’s Trayf last season, returns to the community with a nuanced performance. His Schmuli is gentle and loving, but unable to deviate from doctrine no matter the emotional cost.

Details that elevate the production

Costume designer Michele Friedman Siler nails the look for each world — Hasidic, literary, and Hollywood. Jayson Lawshee’s lighting design keeps the audience focused on the right part of the stage, while Amanda Werre’s sound design adds subtle commentary. Katie Orr’s props establish just the right settings for each couple.

A play that stays with you

In the days following opening night, people who had seen The Wanderers kept asking me what I thought. This is not a show you easily put out of your mind — it demands conversation. All I can say is that this is a play that stays with you long after it ends.

‘The Wanderers’

WHEN: Through Sept. 28
WHERE: The New Jewish Theatre’s Wool Studio Theatre in the Jewish Community Center’s Arts & Education Building, 2 Millstone Campus Drive
HOW MUCH: $29–$61
MORE INFO: Visit newjewishtheatre.org or call 314-442-3283