Theatre In The Park to Present THE PILLOWMAN, 2/8-24

Ira David Wood, III and Theatre In The Park presents a night filled with mystery and intrigue as it presents Martin McDonagh's award-winning, THE PILLOWMAN, February 8-24. Taking the theatre world by the throat with acclaimed productions from London to New York, it is certainly a riveting who-dun-it that is tailor-made for a chilly evening in February.

Katurian K. Katurian (Ira David Wood, IV) just wants to share his creative writing with the world - which, for him, happens to be a police state in the far-off future. He finds himself in an interrogation room with two brutal police officers (Tony Pender & Michael Brocki) who are questioning him about his short stories. It isn't long before Katurian discovers that his younger brother (Sam Whisnant) is also being held in the same building for questioning and possibly even torture. The crimes in question are heinous to be sure, but are the brothers guilty?

What starts off as a seemingly typical dystopian storyline begins to morph into a twisted tale of torture, innocence, art and brotherhood. Is Katurian being interrogated for expressing himself creatively, or is it something darker - something any good cop would investigate?

But this play isn't set in the world quite as we know it; the cops are corrupt, it's a totalitarian state where instant justice is not only permissible but often lethal. By denying the audience a firm hold on reality, the horror and confusion is actually sharpened.

As the show progresses, Katurian shares his chilling stories through narration and reenactments. The seemingly caricatured cops develop in unexpected ways. Villains become anti-heroes, and maybe even almost-heroes. It's up to the audience to reconcile their brutality, and the (possible) brutality of the brothers.

"Trust us when we say that THE PILLOWMAN is as black as comedy gets: hair-raising and blow-by-blow funny," says director Ira David Wood, III. "Secretly it might be about the power of tenderness and thoughtfulness. Or it might be about the deadly responsibilities of artists. Either way, it's a captivating and perversely entertaining experiment with the dangerous power of those ageless words, Once upon a time..."

Don't say you haven't been warned.

THE PILLOWMAN is performed February 8-9, 14-16, & 22-23 at 7:30pm and February 10, 17, & 24 at 3:00pm. Performances are at Theatre In The Park in the Ira David Wood III Pullen Park Theatre. Ticket prices are $22 for adults, $16 for students and seniors over sixty. Reservations can be made online,www.theatreinthepark.com, or by calling the Theatre In The Park box office, 919-831-6058. This production contains strong language, violence, and adult situations.