By Lindsay B. Davis
When the real-life Meg Crane conceived of the idea for a home pregnancy test in 1967, she was a 26-year-old graphic designer freelancing in the cosmetics division of a global pharmaceutical company. As any artist with a day job knows, the path is not always predictable. Neither is Predictor, Jen Blackburn’s imaginative new play named after Crane’s prototype design, which brings this accidental inventor-turned-women’s reproductive health pioneer out of obscurity and centers her as a winsome character who learns she doesn’t need to be rescued.
We first meet Meg (Tony nominee Caitlin Kinnunen, The Prom) as she prepares to sign away the rights to her patent, then jump to a 1960s game show, Who Made That?, where she is among the contestants. As the host and fellow players falsely attribute her invention to others, the stage is set for flashbacks to learn more about the “Who.”
Beyond telling the true origin story, Meg’s mind creates satirically charged fantasy moments and wild vignettes, all brought to life by the play’s Chorus: a revolving door of colorful characters ranging from vintage feminine hygiene commercial announcers to young feminists in the workplace, 1960s ad-agency suits, and a hype squad shouting that she’s “A rebel in sensible shoes!”
Predictor works as a dramedy with relevance and timeliness, supported by a skilled ensemble cast (standouts include Broadway veteran Lauren Molina, Jes Washington, and Nick Piacente). Still, the real reason to see Predictor is Kinnunen. Her grounded and nuanced performance gives a modern feel to a woman ahead of her time.
Alex Keegan’s direction and Cat Raynor’s scenic design occasionally overpower AMT Theater’s intimate Off-Broadway space with the use of oversized rolling chairs, imposing tables, and file cabinets that, while nailing verisimilitude, crowd the stage and its actors.
Most of Predictor lives in a satisfying place that entertains while it teaches, but the final minutes skew toward the symbolic in a way that feels didactic and overly sentimental—a letdown considering the strength of what precedes it. That said, the sum total of the experience still tests positive.
3 out of 5 stars
It wants better content.
Fast facts: ‘Predictor’
Despite an overstuffed stage and a sentimental ending, Predictor tests positive thanks to Caitlin Kinnunen’s grounded performance and a story that deserves to be told.
- AMT Theater, 354 W. 45th Street, New York City
- Running time: Two hours and 15 minutes, one intermission
- Performances through January 18, 2026
