On the surface, God's Ear is about the death of a child and how its shock waves change a father (becomes a philanderer), a sister (wants to be Helen Keller), and a mother (has hallucinations involving the tooth fairy and G.I. Joe). Structurally, Jenny Schwartz's play is about fractured language—with gorgeous passages of mangled clichés and proverbs—and how emotional distance gives its characters frostbite of the soul. Libby Matthews, as the mother, gives a genius-caliber performance, and the design by Etta Lilienthal and Ben Zamora is a simple but mutable installation packed full of ideas. (Washington Ensemble Theatre, 608 19th Ave E, 800-838-3006. 8 pm, $10–$15. Through Nov 10.)