The Pillowman

By Martin McDonagh

Directed by David M. Jenkins

Extended! Oct. 12 – Nov. 5, 2006

Thu. – Sat. 8pm, Sun. 4pm

Tickets: $19.50 – $24.50

Shimberg Playhouse, Straz Center for the Performing Arts

Winner!

  • Creative Loafing 2006 Top 10 Production
  • Creative Loafing Best of the Bay – Best Actor – Steve Garland
  • Jobsite Jobby – Best Play
  • Jobsite Jobby – Best Director – David M. Jenkins
  • Jobsite Jobby – Best Actor – Steve Garland
  • Jobsite Jobby – Best Supporting Actor – Paul Potenza

"This makes Wes Craven look like Mother Goose" – The Guardian

The Pillowman is an exhilarating and vicious comedy-drama about a fiction writer (Steve Garland) in a totalitarian state who is interrogated when a number of bizarre incidents occurring in his town resemble the gruesome content of his short stories. When the writer's mentally impaired brother (Paul Potenza) is also brought in for questioning by two officers (Ryan McCarthy and Matt Lunsford), the police procedural takes unforeseen twists and turns.

Highslide JS

Jobsite Presents (L-R) Matt Lunsford, Steve Garland & Ryan McCarthy in The Pillowman.

Click to enlarge

This thriller was one of London's hottest tickets when it premiered in 2003 and carried the same dynamic to Broadway in a production starring Jeff Goldblum, Billy Crudup and Zeljko Ivanek. The play received the 2004 Olivier Award and an Evening Standard Award nomination for Best New Play and went on to capture two Tony Awards (plus four more nominations), two Drama Desk Awards, an Outer Critic's Circle Award and a Drama Critics Circle Award.

Jobsite arguably began their reputation with Tampa audiences early on with anarchic comedies and plays like Clive Barker's The History of the Devil and Steven Dietz's Dracula performed around Halloween. Jobsite parted ways with opening the season with a "Halloween show" in 2005-2006 when nothing of merit presented itself.

"We weren't going to force a fit last year," said Jobsite Artistic Director David Jenkins. "But this is a play we'd been waiting on to become available, and we were very lucky to get it so soon. We're in good company, regional powerhouses like Chicago's Steppenwolf are also producing the play this season. We're chomping at the bit – this is going to be a dynamite start to our season."

Other plays by Martin McDonagh include The Beauty Queen of Leenane (produced by Jobsite in 2003), The Cripple of Inishmaan and Tony nominees The Lonesome West and The Lieutenant of Inishmore. His short film Six Shooter won a 2006 Academy Award.

The Pillowman contains disturbing scenes of violence and adult languge. it is intended for mature audiences only.

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"Excellent in every case, as professional as you'll find in any theater anywhere, it marks a new high in Jobsite's ascent to Bay area treasure... this formidable work deserves the attention of every serious – and thick-skinned – theatergoer." – Creative Loafing

"The Pillowman may be one of the most encouraging surprises in American theater in recent years.... The powerful Jobsite production features some jarring performances that enhance the play's effectiveness.... [It] is packed with ideas and emotions that don't evaporate quickly." – St. Petersburg Times

"It would be unfair to compare a local production to the Broadway version of the same play unless – as is the case here – the homegrown show holds its own. Part of the credit goes to the exceptional potency of the play, but major props are due to the Jobsite cast and crew." – Tampa Tribune