The Effect

Updated March 16, 2020: Effective immediately, ACT is canceling the first two productions of the Mainstage Season, Sweat and The Effect due to mandates on social distancing in response to COVID-19.

A whip-smart, cerebral and sexy play based on the clinical trial for a new anti-depressant, which questions whether emotion manipulated by chemicals is for real. Hearts racing. Minds reeling. Knees buckling. Connie and Tristan have palpable chemistry—or is it a side effect of a new drug? They are volunteers in a clinical trial, but their sudden and illicit romance forces the supervising doctors to face off over the ethical consequences of their work. Written by Lucy Prebble, contributing writer on the HBO series Succession, The Effect takes on our pill-popping culture with humor and scintillating drama.