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CANNON BEACH — Solving crossword puzzles becomes a metaphor for persistence in playwright Jerry Mayer’s “2 Across,” the latest production to be staged at the Coaster Theatre Playhouse.

The show opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, telling the story of two strangers onboard a San Francisco BART train at 4:30 a.m. Each is solving the New York Times crossword puzzle. One consistently follows through, while the other is quick to give up.

After the suggestion that tossing away an unfinished puzzle might suggest more about a person’s tendency to fail, the challenge is on to finish.

Performances of “2 Across” will run three weekends in Cannon Beach, at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through June 1.

Tickets are $25 to $30, available online or from the theater’s box office. A “pay what you will” performance will be offered on May 16. To purchase tickets, visit www.coastertheatre.com.