Disconnected from the world, alone and without a source of love, both Michael and Lainie try not to lose their minds without each other by their sides once Lebanese terrorists take Michael as hostage away from his home in the United States.

“Two Rooms” performs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday in 2140 Pearson Hall.

According to Brooke Busse, senior in Biology, playing Lainie, “Two Rooms” can be described in one word — intense.

“It really kind of pulls you in and it makes you realize that this is going on. I hope everyone after the play leaves feeling kind of like more aware because this is a play, but this stuff is happening,” Busse said.

Terrorist acts are currently happening and to make students more aware of their surroundings, director Kivan Kirk, senior in performing arts with an emphasis in acting and directing, chose this play.

“I chose this play because one day, I recently scrolled down on my Facebook feed and accidentally watched one of the ISIS beheading videos — the entirety of it,” Kirk said. “Immediately, I had this visceral gut reaction and I started crying, which I don’t do often, because I saw someone die. So I felt guilty that I wasn’t doing enough to stay current.” 

Not only is the play informational about real life events such as international affairs, but the play displays a love story between Michael, played by Adam Kroksh, sophomore in performing arts, and Lainie.

“It’s essentially a love story,” Kirk said. “[It’s] a really twisted and sad one because throughout the entire play, for the love of her husband, Lainie attempts to get him back, and she can’t do much since she’s a sea apart. … She builds this room to stay connected to him, so when she’s not out making phone calls and making pleas, and talking to different government agencies, she’s there in that room with him, connecting with him in her very limited way of doing that.”

Michael and Lainie portray a loving, loyal bond, and in reality, the four actors in the play have a collective friendship that makes the play come together.

“We know each other very well, even the one actress, [Mumbi Kasumba], who I had not acted with before. I feel I know her a lot more personally and that helps,” said Taylor Sklenar, senior in performing arts, chemistry and English. “It helps being comfortable both on stage and off and it helps with the ability to accept each other’s ideas and find the story together.”

This will be Kasumba’s, senior in journalism and mass communication, first play performance at Iowa State.

“Mumbi … I had no idea who she was. She just auditioned and she was great. I’m very, very excited [about her]. She’s a lot of natural ability,” Kirk said.

Together, the ISU students will collectively let their imaginations split into “Two Rooms.”

Tickets for “Two Rooms” cost $6 for adults and $4 for students at the door.