Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them
by Christopher Durang

Name: Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them
Brand: Christopher Durang
SKU: 9780822224013
Rating: 3.62 (25 reviews)

Off-Broadway

Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them Cover

Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them Book Cover — Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

90 mins Present Day Unit Set/Multiple Settings Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes Comedy

Awards & Recognition

Drama League Award Outer Critics Circle

Nominee: Two 2009 Drama League Award, including Outstanding Production of a Play Nominee: Two 2009 Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play

Synopsis

Christopher Durang turns political humor upside down with this raucous and provocative satire about America’s growing homeland “insecurity.”

Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them tells the story of a young woman suddenly 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?

Why does her mother enjoy going to the theatre so much?

Does she seek mental escape, or is she insane?

Honing in on our private terrors both at home and abroad, Durang oddly relieves our fears in this black comedy for an era of yellow, orange and red alerts.

Press Reviews

"You may laugh yourself silly at this silly symphony whose every movement is a scherzo.” – Bloomberg News“Is there a living playwright more willing to take on the big-picture questions with such unwavering trust in the power of the truly silly?"
— Newsday (NY)

"Durang’s funniest play! Don’t feel guilty about laughing so hard at this hilarious new comedy."
— New York Times

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Zamir a charismatic but mysterious young man of indeterminate ethnicity; dark-haired, probably Pakistani or Egyptian or Indian. But could look Italian or Greek too. Does not have an accent, sounds American. 25 to 39.	—	25-39	a charismatic but mysterious young man of indeterminate ethnicity; dark-haired, probably Pakistani or Egyptian or Indian. But could look Italian or Greek too. Does not have an accent, sounds American. 25 to 39.
Luella Felicity’s mother, sweet, somewhat dazed/befuddled woman. Dresses well. Late 40s to mid-50s.	female	40s	Felicity’s mother, sweet, somewhat dazed/befuddled woman. Dresses well. Late 40s to mid-50s.
Leonard Felicity’s father. Strong-minded, formidable, one hundred percent sure he’s right about everything. Late 40s to late 50s.	male	40s	Felicity’s father. Strong-minded, formidable, one hundred percent sure he’s right about everything. Late 40s to late 50s.
Reverend Mike a minister who directs porno movies. Late 30s to late 40s. Likable face, bit sexy, mildly debauched feeling like a Mickey Rourke or a Kevin Spacey.	—	30s	a minister who directs porno movies. Late 30s to late 40s. Likable face, bit sexy, mildly debauched feeling like a Mickey Rourke or a Kevin Spacey.
Hildegarde a conservative, old-fashioned woman in her mid-40s to late 50s. Admires Leonard greatly, has a crush on him, though she doesn’t think of it that way to herself. A nice, neat hairdo. Maybe a navy blue skirt, a navy blue jacket, a white blouse, and pearls. Ladylike.	female	40s	a conservative, old-fashioned woman in her mid-40s to late 50s. Admires Leonard greatly, has a crush on him, though she doesn’t think of it that way to herself. A nice, neat hairdo. Maybe a navy blue skirt, a navy blue jacket, a white blouse, and pearls. Ladylike.
Voice/Narrator age anywhere from late 20s to early 40s. Well-spoken, must make announcements. Also plays Looney Tunes (a hyperactive spy) and the suave Maitre d’. Maitre d’ should sing well or pleasantly.	—	20s	age anywhere from late 20s to early 40s. Well-spoken, must make announcements. Also plays Looney Tunes (a hyperactive spy) and the suave Maitre d’. Maitre d’ should sing well or pleasantly.
Felicity a perfectly nice young woman of 25 to 34.	female	25-34	a perfectly nice young woman of 25 to 34.