Imagine if the mere thought of having to select cereal at the market lead to complete anxiety.

Welcome to the life of Fern, the lead character in Margaret Dulaney’s comedy The View from Here, which is playing at NoHo’s Actors Workout Studio on Lankershim Boulevard. The premiere was Friday and the play runs through June 12.

The View from Here takes place in nostalgic 1980s Kentucky and is about an agoraphobic paralyzed to leave her house.

During an era when aerobics and microwaves are the latest craze, Fern (Debbie Jaffe) enjoys the former in her house, having remained inside for a consistent six years. The latter she wished she owned and the thrilling desire for one becomes a potentially excitable part of her life. Awaiting a sign from God to leave, she is gregarious, spunky, energetic and endearing as long as she stays in her home.

“Fern exhibits [contrast] when dealing with the outside world and inside world, where inside she is completely comfortable. She is in charge of her home; she can take care of anyone who comes into her house,” said Inger Tudor, the play's director. “It’s the second she has to leave her house, for lack of a better word, [she] goes to hell in a handbasket.”

The play’s producing team decided to donate a percentage of ticket sales from their Sunday, May 29 performance to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA). Sunday’s performance will welcome Tudor’s moderated conversation with two recovered agoraphobics, Rita Clark and Neil Sideman, as well as a psychologist, Dr. Dennis Greenberger, who specializes in anxiety and panic disorders. Sideman runs the Web site PanicCure.com where, via phone, he aids those uncomfortable leaving their house due to panic disorders and agoraphobia. The psychologist hails from the Anxiety and Depression Center out of Newport Beach. The play will also offer ADAA literature, along with the program.

“As I was researching for my character, I realized agoraphobia was a very serious issue; I met with a woman [Rita Clark] who was an agoraphobic,” said Jaffe. “I learned over the last 20 years there have been so many improved treatments and awareness.”

Jaffe said that Rita taught her that agoraphobia is “management of the anxiety. You’re not leaving [your house] because it’s your safe place. Rita was able to leave her house if she was with her husband or one of her children.”

The cast and crew are in the same acting class: Tudor directs; Debbie Jaffe stars and produces; with Katherine Browning, Sasha Carrera, and Derek Houck acting in supporting roles.

Fern is not alone in her issues. Her sister, Maple (Browning), suffers from an identity crisis and marital issues. Fern also has to cope with an eccentric neighbor, Carla (Carrera), who reports horrific aspects to stories and an across-the-street neighbor, Arnold (Houck), a golfer and caretaker for a constantly crying baby.

“What goes on in your head is major,” said Jaffe. "[Rita] said cognitive behavioral therapy is the only thing that works because you got to change how your thinking goes. Your thinking goes: what is the worst thing that could happen? When you are in anxiety all you are doing is thinking about the worst thing that could happen.”

The View from Here

Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m.; Sunday evenings at 7 p.m.,

May 20 – June 12, 2011 at

The Actors Workout Studio: 4735 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood 91602

www.theviewfromhere.info