Adam Bock’s dark comedy “The Receptionist” — getting a staged reading by Redbud Productions on Wednesday — focuses on Beverly, an employee who doles out romantic advice, guards her pen stash, and generally acts as gatekeeper for an office.

“The author actually worked as a receptionist and said it’s one of the hardest jobs he’s ever had, because you have to be able to handle distractions, you have to be able to manage multiple things, and receptionists have a lot of power,” said director Tim Grimes. “But ultimately, this play is about really taking responsibility for where you work. … You can’t say, ‘I work here, but I don’t really know what’s going on.’”

Of course, many of us have heard exactly that in recent years (think hearings in Washington), making the play a timely choice. But according to Grimes, “The Receptionist”’s unique exploration of the workplace goes far beyond the satire of the popular sitcom “The Office.”

“It’s a play that has a twist in the middle of it,” said Grimes. “So … there’s only so much I can tell. A character comes in mid-way through and says a line that totally changes the course of the play.”

Actors in “Receptionist,” who are students in Tim and Loretta Grimes’ Redbud acting classes, will be performing on Wednesday with scripts in-hand.

“With the staged readings and with the classes, we try to really do a lot with emotions and interactions," said Grimes. "So we’re blocking it, and we’ve been rehearsing for about a month, but they don’t have to memorize (lines). … At staged readings, you really kind of forget that the script is there.”

PREVIEW
"The Receptionist"
Who: Redbud Productions.
What: A staged reading of Adam Bock's dark comedy about a highly capable receptionist and her co-workers.
When: Wednesday at 8 p.m.
Where: Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave.
How much: $12.
Info: To reserve tickets, call 734-769-2999, or visit Kerrytown Concert House's site.