Brent Askari lived out the scenarios of his play "Cloudhoppers" AFTER he wrote and recently directed it for Mad Horse Productions. This begs the obvious question: Does the South Portland resident travel through time?

Unfortunately, the Epiblogue doesn't have the budget to investigate this inquiry and we instead caught up with the playwright at the start of the new year to discuss local drama.

"Theatre takes risks you can't see in other mediums," said Askari. There are so many filters to get from point A to point Z in television and film that a writer's creative discretion can become a moot point, he said.

And Askari would know. He supports himself by writing and rewriting scripts for film and television.

But who cares about selling-out artistic integrity when there is theatre? Well, for one thing, it doesn't pay much--neither for the acting or the writing that Askari contributes to Southern Maine venues.

His recent play, "Cloudhoppers," explores what happens when two people are delayed in an airport one too many times. Overlapping this plot is a discussion about allowing indecision to delay our own lives. So, when Askari's flight was recently grounded overnight, he experienced a flashback to his own work, or, as the Epiblogue suspects, he travelled back in time to write the play.

Either way, the familiar airport scenario would suggest that theatre can be both contemporary and pertinent. Askari agrees.

Askari said he, like many, would like to raise awareness about the local scene's efforts and talents. He said he would like to see contemporary plays that have succeeded in other regions be performed in the area, rather than rehashing the well-known, but repetitive plays in constant production.

Nurturing local talent is also important, said Askari. Portland is doing well so far in promoting new writers with various contests, said the playwright, and diversifying the importation of new plays from other areas can only raise the talent of local actors, actresses, directors and writers.

The Epiblogue wanted to know if Askari had travelled in time to see who would be a famous playwright, actress or actor from Portland so the rest of us could spend our time on other pursuits, but he coyly avoided revealing his secrets.

He even implied that hard work, lots of writing and viewing plays are the best advice he would give to struggling playwrights. Easy for him to say when he can travel through time.

Askari, 38, willing be acting in several upcoming plays with Mad Horse Productions, including "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You" and "History Boys." He is currently working on a play about a book club gone wrong and is tentative about ever writing a second novel.