The Chatham Community Players (CCP) continues their 88th Season by presenting the black comedy, The Pillowman by Irish playwright, Martin McDonagh directed by Jonathan Wierzbicki. This play received two Tony Awards, the 2004 Olivier Award for Best Play and NY Drama Critic’s Circle Award for Best New Foreign Play.
A writer of short stories and a citizen of a totalitarian state, Katurian is taken from his home by government officials without explanation. Soon he is interrogated by two detectives about his writing. His stories tend to be violent and gruesome, many involving children that are strikingly similar to a number of actual child-murders happening in his town. What is the connection?
The talented cast includes: Michael King as Tupolski, Rick Holloway as Katurian, Hans Augustave as Ariel, Peter Horn as Michal, Valerie de Leon as Mother, Nicholas Duchensky as Father, Zachary Catron as the Boy and Brielle Raddi as the Girl.
“Comedies don’t come any blacker than The Pillowman, the spellbinding stunner of a play dazzles.” ~ New York Times
"It’s a rip-roaring experience, full of claustrophobic moments and large-scale exaggerations. But above all, the play is an excuse to talk about storytelling itself.” ~ Chicago Tribune
Jonathan Wierzbicki is returning to the Chatham Playhouse having directed, Inherit the Wind last season. Jonathan has acted in, directed, and written productions for regional and community theatre for over 25 years. “The Pillowman challenges our concept of justice, responsibility and the very nature of art. Using humor to disarm the audience, we are drawn into the dark imagination of a man who is grappling with his past,” added Jonathan. The Chatham Playhouse understands that this challenging play must find the perfect balance of brutal drama and dark comedy. Whether the lead character’s stories are works of expression of his inner art or just gratuitous shock pandering for attention, that is up to the audience member to “And that brings us to the provocative quandary of the Pillowman - what responsibility does the artist have on his effect on society, and whether it's the product itself or its original intent that defines it as art,” explained Jonathan.
Box Office Information – Online Ticketing
Performance dates are February 26, 27 and March 5, 6, 12 and 13 at 8PM and March 7 at 3PM. All performances are at the Chatham Playhouse, 23 North Passaic Avenue, in Chatham. Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for youth/senior. Warning: a viciously funny, seriously disturbing tale containing scenes and language that may offend. Not suitable for children.
To access the theater’s online ticketing service, simply visit our TicketLeap affiliate. The service is available 24 hours a day, and tickets can be purchased online up until three hours prior to curtain on the day of a performance. The box office will begin accepting phone reservations on February 16 at (973) 635-7363. For information regarding box office hours, please call the box office number listed above.