THE NORWEGIANS to Play 150th Performance on 4/5

In an open-ended run that shows no signs of slowing down, The Drilling Company's production of "The Norwegians" by C. Denby Swanson, directed by Elowyn Castle, will have its 150th performance on April 5.

The production began Off-off Broadway from March 8 to April 14, 2013 and re-opened October 3, 2014 on an Off-Broadway contract. The Off-Broadway run was suspended November 24, 2013 to accommodate a pre-existing commitment for the theater space. Performances resumed January 9, 2014 as an open-ended run.

The script has been published in an acting edition by Dramatists Play Service and is also published by Smith & Kraus in "New Playwrights: The Best Plays of 2013," edited by Lawrence Harbison.

"The Norwegians" is a strong, bitter comedy about women scorned in Minnesota and the really, really nice gangsters--Norwegian hit men--they hire to whack their ex-boyfriends. Olive is a transplant from Texas and Betty is a transplant from Kentucky, but neither of them was prepared for the Norwegian men they would fall in love with there: the practical, warm, thoughtful, destructive, evil, jilting kind. If you're a hit man in Minnesota, 83% of your clients want to take out their ex (Oofda!). Olive has referred Betty to Gus and Tor, a partnership in the whacking business. What Tor doesn't know is that Gus has been sleeping with the clients. What Olive doesn't know is that Gus is Betty's own ex, and she has already put out a hit on him with a Swiss firm. Can Betty call off the job in time to let Gus do his? Should she?

The play is also riding a wave of Norwegian entertainment this year. "What does the Fox Say," by the Norwegian group Ylvis, now rivals "Gangnam Style" as the most-watched video of all time. "Lilyhammer," the Norwegian-American television series starring Steven Van Zandt about a New York gangster trying to start a new life in Norway, is a solid hit that is now in its second season. "The Vikings," the Canadian-Irish historical drama television series, is going strong in its second season.

The actors are Veronica Cruz (Olive), Dan Teachout (Gus), Karla Hendrick (Betty) and Hamilton Clancy (Tor). Choreographer is Megan Sipe. Costume Design is by Mimi Maxmen. Scenic design is by Jennifer Varbalow. Lighting design is by Tyler Learned.

Actor Hamilton Clancy is now playing Kowalski in the second season of Netflix's succesful "Orange is the New Black." He is also appearing on "Boardwalk Empire" and NBC's "Crossbones."

Tickets are now on sale through April 27. Performances are Mondays at 7:00 PM, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 PM, Saturdays and Sundays at 3:00 PMat The Drilling Company Theatre, 236 West 78th Street, 3 fl. Tickets are $59.99 general admission and can be ordered through Smarttix at 212-868-4444, www.smarttix.com or on the show's website, is www.norwegians.us.

Photo by Lee Wexler/Images for Innovation