The Pillowman

Playing at the T. Schreiber Studio & Theatre located at 151 West 26th Street, seventh floor. It runs two hours twenty minutes with one intermission. The play closes on November 24, 2013.

The play won the 2004 Olivier Award for Best Play and a 2005 New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best foreign play. It was nominated for three Tony Awards in 2005 and won two. It was nominated for Best Play and won for Best Lighting Design and Best Scenic Design.

Martin McDonagh (playwright) has been nominated for four Tony Awards for “The Lieutenant of Inishmore” (2006), “The Pillowman” (2005), “The Lonesome West” (1999), and “The Beauty Queen” (1998). He won two Laurence Oliver Awards for “The Pillowman” (2004) and “The Lieutenant of Inishmore” (2003).

The setting is an unnamed totalitarian state.

Katurian (Josh Marcantel) is being interrogated by two detectives. One is a good cop Tupolski (Don Carter) and a bad cop Ariel (Tommy Buck). They are questioning him about the short stories he has written. Some of his stories have violence against children. Two children have been found dead. Evidence is found in his apartment that is similar to one of his stories.

While he is being questioned his brother Michael (Alexei Bondar) is in the next room. Hearing his brothers screams he panics. His brother is not all there mentally. Katurian refuses to say anything unless he sees his brother.

A third child is missing. One of his stories is of a little girl (Aliya Victoriya) who believes she is Jesus. The story is played out.

There are flashback of his childhood with his mother (Victoria Gathrie) and his father (Lance Olds).

What the stories he has written are about and what happens is what you will have to find out yourself.

This is a well done production. The thought that the police are in control and are the judge, jury and enforcer of the verdict is scary.

The cast is excellent. I would love to see Tommy Marcantel, Don Carter and Tommy Buck on Broadway real soon. That’s how good they were.

I wonder how long it took to take off the green paint off Aliya. If you want to know what I am talking about see the show. You won’t be disappointed.

Review by Rozanna Radakovich