Cherry Lane Alternative, Angelina Fiordellisi and Maria Di Dia
present

CATCH THE BUTCHER

Written by Adam Seidel
Directed by Valentina Fratti
Scenic Designer: Lauren Helpern
Costume Designer: Brooke M. Cohen
Lighting Designer: Graham Kindred
Original Music and Sound: Quentin Chiappetta
Production Stage Manager: Alison Hassman
General Manager: Maria Productions, LLC/Maria Di Dia

Featuring: Lauren Luna Velez, Jonathan Walker, Angelina Fiordellisi

Press Representative: Sam Rudy Media Relations

Cherry Lane Theatre
38 Commerce Street
Through October 30, 2015, M-S at 7:30pm, except 10/17 and 10/24 at 5 and 9pm
www.cherrylanetheatre.org; 866.811.4111


What happens when a serial killer’s victim goes along willingly? In this dark comedy, playwright Seidel exaggerates the challenges of relationships.

Our serial killer, The Butcher of Harbor Park, finds an unusual 12th victim in Nancy, who deliberately positions herself on a park bench in a small Texas town in hopes of meeting him. She suspects he has spotted her and she keeps returning to the bench until he finally abducts her. She wakes up tied to a chair in his basement. The Butcher shows her his “tools” but is taken off guard by her fearlessness, her knowledge of his previous murders, and her desire to know why he kills. She tells him of her suicidal attempts, with nothing left to live for, and assumes he too feels unloved. After complimenting him on the poetry he has written for other victims, she asks him to read the poem he wrote for her.

Nancy continues to engage and bait him until he too admits his love for her. The Butcher invites her upstairs to set her free, but she insists on moving in. They move from killer-victim to husband-wife in the most traditional fashion which continues until the day-to-day irritations and frustrations set in. Their routine is turned upside down when their neighbor Joanne invites herself over. They begin to turn on each other and fight for control. They are back to where they started when Nancy is willingly dragged to the basement to become his 12th victim.

In some sense, romantic love is a willingness to be tortured. The actors do a fine job with this challenging and original script, especially Ms. Fiordellisi with a spot on Texas accent.

- Gloria Talamas -