Written by and starring Jesse Eisenberg, “The Revisionist” tells the story of a young man who visits his 75-year-old second cousin Maria (Vanessa Redgrave) to relieve his writer’s block. He leaves the bustle of New York for a small Polish town, where the two immediately take jabs at one another.

The play’s plot begins simply, but as obstacles mount, each character’s personal form of loneliness is revealed through his or her broken history. By the end, the story has gained a substantial psychological weight. However, the conclusion doesn’t live up to the poignant build-up.

However, that one complaint does not detract from the highlights of the play. Particularly noteworthy is the interplay between Redgrave and Eisenberg as well as the occasional entrance of Zenon (Daniel Oreskes), a third main character and a major source of comic relief.

Redgrave is the standout of the cast. She infuses Maria with passion and pain, creating a completely fleshed-out character. Eisenberg himself gives a rousing performance, albeit one somewhat typical of his usual persona. He portrays David as an alienated and often emotionally distant young artist. While charming, his character is at best a complement to Redgrave’s.

As Zenon, Oreskes pulls his weight alongside the two superstars, establishing enough of a distinctive, comic presence to find his way into the audience’s heart.

The entire crew also deserves recognition for the world they craft onstage, especially set designer John McDermott. He creates an immersive space that breathes a note of hyper-realism into the performance. On the whole, “The Revisionist” provides its audience with an intensely felt and personal evening of theater.

“The Revisionist” is presented by the Rattlestick Theater Company and plays now through April 21 at the Cherry Lane Theater.

A version of this article was published in the Tuesday, March 12 print edition. Nikolas Reda-Castelao is a contributing writer. Email him at [email protected].