A political polemic filtered through a Hitchcock shocker, Keely and Du is as thoughtful as it is thrilling, a claustrophobic crime drama with a controversial heart.

Set in a basement bedroom, the play revolves around Keely, a pregnant young woman snatched in front of an abortion clinic by a group of conservative Christians, and Du, the nurse charged with caring for mother and child. In the emotional hothouse of confined spaces and divergent ideologies, the two women discover an unlikely bond forming.

The play opens Friday at Le Chat Noir, 304 Eight St.

"Does it address political issues - yes," said Doug Joiner, the production's director. "Does it address who one's moral authority is - yes. But at the heart of the play is the thrill that comes from this relationship Keely and Du share. Although they never come to terms, never concede their position on this particular issue, it does not prevent an incredible friendship from forming."

Because the play deals with the moral, religious and legal issues tied into the abortion debate, Mr. Joiner said he fully expects Keely and Du to be met with a degree of controversy. In fact, he said, he's hopeful.

"Now, I believe that controversy for the sake of controversy is just vapid," he said. "But controversy that provokes debates, well, that is significant and needed."

Rick Davis, who plays Walter, the man of faith behind the kidnapping scheme, said the play addresses the politics of abortion, but Keely and Du is really a play about the unlikely ways connections are formed.

"You can have discourse," he said. "You can have debate. And you can still come together as human beings. That's something that's important to learn and important to remember."

Mr. Davis said it's also important to remember that although Keely is a play with a message, it's also entertainment built on a base of theatricality and mood. He said the piece works particularly well in the relatively tight space at Le Chat Noir.

"There are no exits in this play," Mr. Davis said. "There are no entrances. You can never get out of the space. And really, that's what this play is about, the things that come out of that kind of confinement."

Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626 or steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.