The Skriker

If the earth could speak to us today, what would it say? Would it manifest itself to us openly and benevolently for the sake of healing, or would it appear mysteriously and malevolently via totemic signs and occult channels: a protean assassin seeking vengeance? British playwright Caryl Churchill explores this horrifying question by charting the machinations of its title character, a “shape shifter and death portent, ancient and damaged” as s/he infiltrates the souls of two teenage mothers, seducing them through paranormal means into homicidal madness and loss. The three travel between parallel universes in elastic time, alternating between contemporary urban landscapes and fantastical realms inhabited by mythological figures. Symbolically exploring the socio-political themes of possession, post-natal psychosis, and climate change, The Skriker blends and bends naturalism, horror and magical realism into a single nightmare mélange reminiscent of The Exorcist, Mulholland Drive, and Rosemary’s Baby. Directed by Kameron Steele (Blood Wedding), the production will feature a circle-in-the-square arena stage designed by John Rodriguez ’18, a live computer generated sound score by Belgian composer Marc Appart, costume design by theatre faculty Deborah Brothers, and light by NYC-based designer Ayumu “Poe” Saegusa

Post-show talkback Nov. 19th