Playwright Jeffrey Hatcher's MURDERERS, takes the mainstage as Asolo Rep's ninth production this season - the fifth to open in repertory for 2009. The offbeat, killer comedy opens on March 13 and continues through May 23, 2009. Tickets are available through the Asolo Rep box office at (941) 351-8000, toll-free at (800) 361-8388, as well as online at www.asolo.org.
If MURDERERS playwright Jeffrey Hatcher's name sounds familiar to Sarasota audiences, it should. Asolo Rep has produced several other Hatcher hits including SMASH, TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, MURDER BY POE, and ELLA. According to Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards - "Audiences really love Jeffrey Hatcher's work. And this one should really hit home with our audiences; we just couldn't resist. After all, it is set in our own back yard."
Hatcher's wickedly witty play, set in a fictitious Sarasota area retirement community, is directed by Mark Rucker, with scenic design by Eric Flatmo, costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Thom Weaver, and sound design by Matthew Parker.
According to director Mark Rucker, "That's what makes MURDERERS such a sly little event. These are people just like us, living in our own community, leading lives just like ours in one way or another. They turn to us and make us their confidantes, and in return, we forgive them all their flaws. They're not such horrible people after all. They are very sweet and funny."
The cast for the show consists of Mercedes Herrero, Ann Morrison and Bryan Torfeh. Herrero is performing to rave reviews in Asolo Rep's THE WINTER'S TALE, Torfeh wowed audiences in prior seasons as Salieri in AMADEUS and the "inconstant husband" in THE CONSTANT WIFE, and Morrison comes back to the Asolo Rep stage having performed several years ago in 1940S RADIO HOUR, ALL IN NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN and SWINGTIME CANTEEN.
All three of the quirky, likeable characters they play have murder on their minds, but why? Their humorous monologues layout the plots and twists behind a mysterious series of murders at the usually peaceful Florida retirement village of "Riddle Key." Dapper gigolo Gerald, golden years housewife Lucy and the lovely village employee Minka all seem to be unlikely killers at first. But as the plot unravels and the body count multiplies, clever dialogue and witty one-liners will leave audience members grinning and maybe even agreeing that the line between murder and justice is sometimes very hard to define - for good reason.
Tickets are $20-$58, depending on seat location, day and time. Special discounts are available for students and for groups of 10 or more. For reservations, call 941-351-8000 or toll-free 800-361-8388. Or save time and gas by purchasing tickets online at www.asolo.org. Season subscriptions are also on sale, offering a substantial discount and benefits to the subscriber. Student passes cost only $25 and allow students to attend any and all of the plays, as often as they like over the entire repertory season. Tickets to opening night include a special champagne afterparty sponsored by Lakewood Ranch Communities.
Director's Notes: by Mark Rucker
Jeffrey Hatcher likes to toy with an audience. He's given us a title that conjures up large, grizzled, frightening creatures - the kinds who hide in dark alleys and the worst neighborhoods in big, dangerous cities. And then the curtain rises in an environment that couldn't be cheerier or sunnier - Sarasota. And instead of psychotic madmen, we get charming, quirky figures: a dapper gentleman in a tuxedo, a daffy elderly housewife, and a sweet-faced retirement community employee. What could be more delightful? Murderers for us to warm up to!
That's the great pleasure of Hatcher's writing, and in particular of this engaging little play: clichés are defied, expectations thwarted. This playwright didn't invent the sweet little lady who murders or the charming roué capable of killing, but the unexpected twists never fail to make us laugh in shocked surprise, make us sit up a little and listen a bit more carefully. Surely there must be more going on here than meets the eye? Such lovely, engaging personalities must have good reasons to resort to murder. And so we listen sympathetically, ready to quickly forgive the unforgivable. And we actually find pleasure in hearing their stories spin out. We can't wait until they get to the act we've been promised by the title.
And that's what makes Murderers such a sly little event. These are people just like us, living in our own community, leading lives just like ours in one way or another. They turn to us and make us their confidantes, and in return, we forgive them all of their flaws. They're not such horrible people after all. They're all very sweet and funny. The line between the criminal and lawful has been smudged, and we're not so sure of our own innocence anymore!
