The Delectable Mountains — Michael Malone

Filled with poignancy, humor and eccentric revelations, The Delectable Mountains is a hilarious romp through the melodramatic tumult of growing up and falling in love.

Life seems to have little to offer Devin Donahue at the age of 23. Graduation thrust him out of college against his will, and the love of his life just left him to marry his older brother. With a broken heart and no direction to speak of, Devin pounces on his first opportunity to skip town -- an invitation to help run a summer theater in Colorado with his high-school sweetheart.

Upon arrival, Devin is shoved into a torrential melodrama of barroom brawls, outrageous love triangles and the worst performance of Hedda Gabler ever produced. He is sucked into the action by myriad batty characters, including a maniacal political dramatist, an emaciated director riddled with d.t.'s and a bipolar actor whose luck -- and money -- are about to run out. All the while Devin must fumble through his own awkward attempts at love -- and somehow manage to come out on the other side.