Words abundant but tone uneven in the sanctuary library of ‘A Distinct Society’

A border patrol agent (Amir Abdullah) and frequent visitor to a library on the U.S.-Canadian border takes a liking to the librarian (Kate Fry) in “A Distinct Society.” (Michael Brosilow)

The most compelling aspect of “A Distinct Society,” receiving a sluggish production in its Midwest premiere at Writers Theatre, is its origin story. Inspired by true events that surely did call out for artistic treatment, the play takes place at a specific place and time. 

The place: the Haskell Free Library, a genuine location built on the border of the United States and Canada. That borderline, an emblem of human division here in the form of a piece of tape, seems almost arbitrarily chosen (there is some concern about the sobriety of the civil engineers who created it), yet overflows with practical realities.