THE CATASTROPHIC THEATRE

presents the regional premiere of

THE STRANGERER

BY MICKLE MAHER

THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS AT 8 PM

OCTOBER 17 – NOVEMBER 8 AT DIVERSEWORKS

In addition to the new works for which the company is known, the artists that comprise The Catastrophic Theatre have a long history of introducing Houston audiences to cutting edge artists whose work had otherwise been unproduced in this city.  They were the first to produce the works of Suzan-Lori Parks, Wallace Shawn, Sarah Kane, Mac Wellman, Charles L. Mee, Lisa D’Amour and Mickey Birnbaum, among others. 

Next month, they will proudly present the regional premiere of a remarkable play by their favorite new discovery, Chicago playwright Mickle Maher.

“Mr. Lehrer, were you aware that I am a lover of the theater?”

One of the books on President Bush’s 2006 vacation reading list was Albert Camus’ absurdist tale of senseless murder, The Stranger.  In hopes that the French philosopher might shed some light on the recent political clime – or vice versa – Mickle Maher’s new play The Strangerer collides several of Camus’ works with the first Bush/Kerry presidential debate in 2004.  The formalities of the debate are overturned as Bush and Kerry struggle with the question not of if or why an innocent man should be killed (the man in question being moderator Jim Lehrer), but rather what is the proper manner in which to go about killing him.  The Strangerer is part political satire, part classical drama, and part contemporary debate.  A murder mystery with the murderers in plain view, it asks one of the most important questions of our day:  Why does our president want to kill a lot of innocent people?

The Strangerer was developed through a grant from Creative Capital and premiered at Theater Oobleck last year.  It enjoyed two runs of several months apiece and then transferred to Off-Broadway’s Barrow Street Theater this summer.

Catastrophic Artistic Director Jason Nodler will direct.

“I am positively obsessed with presidential politics,” says Nodler.  “I am also cursed by an affinity for existential philosophy.  So this play’s right up my alley.  Maher’s writing here is utterly mysterious yet imminently accessible.  It is also insightful, strange, moving and hilarious.  You don’t have to have read Camus or followed the 2004 election to love this play.”

Catastrophic star designers Jodi Bobrovsky (set, properties), Kirk Markley (lights) and Chris Bakos (sound) will design.

The Strangerer features Paul Locklear as George W. Bush, Troy Schulze as John Kerry and Sean Patrick Judge as Jim Lehrer.

Rave Reviews for The Strangerer

"...an absurdist, frequently hilarious tone poem...Neither simple mockery nor earnest existentialism, (this) oddball play is a uniquely weird and enthralling cross-pollination of the two .... makes the impossible commonplace with a perfectly straight face..."  Variety

"The Strangerer fuses political and literary satire, mock philosophy, and a touch of metatheatricality into something truly new under the sun....the real moments are so utterly real and the bizarre moments so utterly bizarre that the play takes the humor of incongruity to a new plane." Backstage

"... a magnificent oddity... for the pure delight of invention, this show shouldn’t be missed."  LA Weekly

"With "The Strangerer," Theater Oobleck has repeated history from a strange, vibrant, and perversely insightful new angle — and the results are nothing if not memorable."  NY Sun

"... might set Lincoln and Douglas rolling in the aisles... as well as in their graves."   Time Out NY

"...incisive and hilarious..."  American Theatre Web

 "...disturbingly compelling..."  talkinbroadway.com

"...unpredictable, hilarious, and provocative....like Alice’s Wonderland, Maher’s universe is at once coherent and mad." "Highly Rec/Critic's Choice"   Chicago Reader  

 "...dazzling erudite humor...haunting..."   Time Out Chicago - 5 star review

 "Brilliant" is a word to avoid. For one thing, it's generally an overstatement. Worse, it's worn out, robbed of its singularity by years of careless use. You might as well say "double plus good." But "The Strangerer," a new play from Theatre Oobleck, has in its double plus goodness such peculiar qualities (lightness, hardness, endless facets) that it could tempt that old word out of retirement. "Brilliant" should make you think of a gem—something that shines through cutting. "The Strangerer" is practically all sharp edge...freakish, perfect, hilarious..." Centerstage

 "...hilarious and intellectually pointed...a smartly crafted, tautly produced work..."  Gay Chicago Magazine

"...bizarrely fascinating...smart and beautifully written..."  Chicago FreePress

"Never have the multiple meanings of the term "absurd" been on better display than in Theater Oobleck's  ("The Strangerer")... It is funny, it is beyond brilliant.... it's the best piece you'll see this year about American politics, the news business, or existentialism.  WBEZ - critic's pick of the year, 2007

 “The play's what's secret. What's it going to be? Am I going to like it? I'm excited by that secret.”

The Strangerer opens Friday, October 17, at DiverseWorks Artspace (1117 E. Freeway) and runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm through November 8.  Tickets are $15.  Or join us at 6:30 on Thursday, October 16 for food, drinks and an exclusive sneak peek preview party with the cast.  Preview tickets are $50.  For ticket information, call 713-880-5216 or visit www.catastrophictheatre.com.

Show Time

• All ticket sales are final. No refunds or cancellations.
• Tickets may be exchanged for Catastrophic Theater productions, subject to availability, up to 24 hours before your scheduled performance.   
• No ticket exchanges will be handled at the Box Office during the hour before curtain time.
• Exchanges to a more expensive performance require payment of the additional amount at the time of the exchange.
• Please call The Catastrophic Theatre Office at 713-880-5216 with any questions.