HAMTRAMCK—How appropriate that The Fall opened over the weekend of the often-scorned romantic holiday, Sweetest Day.

But give the quirky romantic comedy, which kicks off Planet Ant’s new season, credit for avoiding mush and Hallmark sentiment. The one-act is 50 minutes with no intermission and it goes by quickly, mostly because the dialogue is witty and honest. It is co-written by its only two actors, Jaclyn Cherry and Michael Owen Smith, and directed by Lauren Bickers and Moni Jones.

Cherry plays Grace, a just-turned-30-year-old who likes to hang out with her dog and eat jelly straight out of the jar. Smith’s character, Mitch, 33, is in a similar situation, except his preference is eating peanut butter straight from the jar. It’s that culinary quirk (and the fact that he doesn’t buy bread to go with the peanut butter) that prompts meddling but well-meaning grocery-store cashier Helen to sign him up for a speed-dating encounter. In Grace’s case, it’s her mother who signs her up and asks her that cringe-worthy question for childless single adults: “When are you going to give me some grandchildren?”

Two props are stationary throughout the show: the plastic chairs in which Grace and Mitch sit while filling out the speed-dating service questionnaire. They find some of the questions ridiculous or befuddling, but even without sharing all of their answers with each other their attraction blossoms.

The dating-service sessions are interspersed with scenes in which the actors play other characters, including Grace’s grandfather, Mitch’s boss, the cashier Helen and one of Grace’s old boyfriends. The secondary characters are not well developed, but the they serve their purpose.

There were a few minor lighting flubs on opening night, but otherwise the production was well-executed. It’s set up with the audience on two sides of the intimate space, which adds to the voyeuristic ambience.

The costume changes are done on the fly and are minimal, usually involve bad wigs, and add to the hilarity. It’s much the same with the scenery changes. Even though the lights are down, when Grace flips the sign over to “The Hospital” from “ConnectionZ Plus” (the speed-dating outfit) the audience bursts into laughter.

It’s moments like the sign-switch that makes the play work. It doesn’t overreach to be anything other than it is: a sweet story of what it’s like to be single and struggling.

Click here for show days, times and details.