“In Tandem” makes a meal of the absurd, serving up two grieving nuns, a herd of rebellious sheep, and original tunes with a generous helping of theatrical mischief.

Nestled in Civic Theatre of Allentown’s Theatre514, through Sept. 20, “In Tandem” brings together “The Salacious Sins of Sister Cuthberta” and “SHEEP! (A Comedy With Songs),” two wildly different one‑act plays linked by characters pushing the limits of the worlds they inhabit.

Local playwright J. Gulotta, director Rae Labadie, and assistant director Larry McCallister explore the familiar human conditions of grief, love and the ambition to break free from what has been prescribed.

The Sept. 11 opening night performance was seen for this review.

With “The Salacious Sins of Sister Cuthberta,” mourning can lead to implausible things, as seen in Sister Cuthberta (Becky Enborg), whose disposition resembles a rain cloud permanently stationed overhead and who could easily be imagined with a flask attached to her thigh, regardless of any allegiance to a holy figure.

After the convent orders the damnation of their beloved cat, Porridge, Sister Cuthberta and Sister Andalucia (Marley Mathias) turn to satanic intervention disguised as witchcraft in an effort to bring their feline friend back to the secular world.

The two-person play uses an odd-couple dynamic that works exceptionally well. While Sister Andalucia anxiously chatters and keeps her hands busy folding laundry, Sister Cuthberta multitasks as a spitfire conversationalist, diligently preparing her squirrel offering for the upcoming spell.

Beneath their comedic exchanges lie vulnerable conversations about loss, stories from the past, and their standing in life. The more sacrilegious their attempt becomes, the more recognizable their refusal to let go feels.

Playwright J. Gulotta describes the one-act as “an absurd play for an absurder world.” Throughout the venture, there remains a loud silence: the need for connection, whether with another person or a treasured pet.

The second one-act brings in the circus, where “Les Misérables” meets “Animal Farm.”

What initially sounds like a lighthearted premise about circus sheep scheming to escape a societal hierarchy becomes a surprisingly pointed story about imagination and the right to determine who you are.

Framed from an alternate reality where animals have overtaken humans, “SHEEP! (A Comedy With Songs),” looks back at the flock’s origins, where performers are trained to entertain their human masters through tricks and spectacle.

The First Sheep (Marley Mathias) begins to question why her existence should be limited to obedient performance. Her impulse to imagine a world beyond the ring destabilizes the circus’s natural order, setting off a revolution that grows from a single questioning voice into a chorus of defiance.

What makes the story particularly effective is its refusal to separate the rebellion from the spectators. The sheep sing, perform and eventually break through the fourth wall, transforming the intimate Theatre514 into part of their insurrection.

The audience is not simply watching the sheep demand freedom. It is suddenly caught up in it. In a production so committed to absurdity, the sheep’s fight to imagine a different life feels resoundingly human.

The cast’s versatility is another standout strength. Marley Mathias is especially memorable, standing out in each of the one-acts as Sister Andalucia and First Sheep. Mathias steps into each character so completely that you have to remind yourself the same actor played the polar opposite just one hour earlier. The transformation is impressive and a delight to watch.

Becky Enborg, who gives Sister Cuthberta her fiery center, returns as the Second Sheep with an equally committed and wonderfully sheepish performance. Their chemistry carries effortlessly from one world into the next.

The production design knows when to step aside and when to make itself noticed, thanks to Josephine Genuardi. The efficient wooden structure slips effortlessly from a convent to a circus, while the playful props impart charm and establish world-building context.

Ellen Schmoyer’s lighting design is effective as well, becoming an important storytelling tool that establishes mood and gently guides the audience through the emotional turns of each story.

Ultimately, “In Tandem” brings something deeply human beneath its absurdity. Whether it is two nuns refusing to accept the loss of a pet or sheep refusing to accept the lives they have been given, Gulotta’s writing and Labadie’s direction are guided by a desire for connection, freedom and something beyond.

The production’s small scale only makes those ideas feel larger. With actors who shift fluently between worlds, original songs and an audience occasionally swept directly into the action, “In Tandem” is a testament to the distinct impact of live theater. It is absurd, frequently poignant and a delight to be caught up in.

“In Tandem: “The Salacious Sins of Sister Cuthberta,” “Sheep! (A Comedy with Songs),” 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11, 12, 18, 19; 3 p.m. Sept. 13, 20, Civic Theatre514, 514 N. 19th St., Allentown. Patrons can use code SHEEP to save $10 on every two tickets purchased. 610-432-8943, https://civictheatre.com/