Chicago, Illinois - The Pillowman - 2006 Trip

Take the description “dark comedy” seriously.  There’s a strong emphasis on the dark in this exploration of abuse and the influence abuse has on a child’s psyche.  The love between brothers and the examination of physical versus mental torture is intense.  The intensity is broken by moments of hilarity, but even the humor provokes a guilty, nervous laughter.  I thoroughly enjoyed both the writing and the acting in this intense, dark play.  That said, it’s not a play for everyone.  Many will find its themes uncomfortable or distasteful; however, I found them bold and thought provoking.  The Pillowman examines the use of writing to alleviate the pain in a writer’s life as well as how childhood informs who a person becomes as an adult.

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