Custom Made Theatre Presents the Bay Area Premiere of Christopher DurangÂ's WHY TORTURE IS WRONG, AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM 1/11-2/10

Custom Made Theatre presents the Bay Area premiere of Christopher Durang's Why Torture is Wrong, and the People who Love Them. This highly original black comedy centers around a young woman who suspects that her new husband -- whom she married while drunk -- may be a terrorist. Durang, the crown prince of American absurdists, spins a mirthful, politically infused tale full of outrageous characters. Directed by Claire Rice at Gough Street Playhouse, 1622 Gough Street, San Francisco, January 11 – February 10, 2013.

Why Torture is Wrong…is a hilarious, absurdist offering from the author of Beyond Therapy and Sister Mary Ignatius Explains it All For You.

Directed by Claire Rice

Featuring Jeannie Brick, Christopher P. Kelly, Sal Mattos, Eden Neuendorf, Paul Stout, and Teri Whipple.

Scenic Design by Joshua Saulpaw
Costumes by Amanda Lee Angott
Lighting by Maxx Kurzunski

In Torture… , Durang tells the story of a young woman in crisis: Is her new husband, whom she married when drunk, a terrorist? Or just crazy? Or both? Is her father's hobby of butterfly collecting really a cover for his involvement in a shadow government? Does her mother go to the theater frequently to seek mental escape, or is she just insane? Add in a minister who directs porno and a ladylike operative whose underwear just won't stay up, and this black comedy will make you laugh all the way to the waterboarding room.

Although the play carries the aura of revelations of U. S. Government-sanctioned torture during the height of the "War on Terror," Durang denies that he has created any parallels to historical figures. In an interview with the New York Times, "Durang  railed against Mr. Bush, Mr. Cheney, Mr. Yoo and others at great length, though none of his characters were based on them."

"'Once I came upon the shadow government idea for the play, I really did think of Cheney, because he was fairly secretive,' Mr. Durang said. 'But I also was choosing not to base the people on Bush and Cheney, because I thought that would tie me down too much.'"

Show Times and Tickets

Press Opening: Tuesday, January 15 at 8:00pm

Previews: January 11 and 12 at 8:00pm, January 13 at 7:00 p.m.
Runs:  January 17 – February 10, Thurs-Sat 8:00pm; Sun 7:00pm

General Admission $30
Students/Seniors/TBA members $25
Previews $15-$20

Learn more & buy tickets at (415) 798-CMTC, http://www.custommade.org

More Articles by This Author...