In A Dark Dark House

The Los Angeles premiere of Neil LaBute’s play, directed by Larry Moss, pits two estranged brothers against one another in a search for the truth about their shared past. LaBute’s thought-provoking and challenging tragicomedy explores the darker facets of human relationships and the covert, unwritten bonds that tie families together. Adapted from his short story, “Swallowing Bicycles,” the playwright has called this powerful piece his “most personal play.” 

“This play is much closer to me than some of my others,” LaBute writes in an introduction to the published version. “It is still packed with fiction, much of the story leaping out of my active imagination, but there is a kernel of hard fact and truth at the center of the tale. I too grew up in a dark house, one that was shrouded with shadows and sadness, and I understand quite deeply what the brothers in the play are going through.”

“As dark as the subject matter is, it also contains an amazing amount of hope and humor,” says Moss. “There’s nothing more fascinating than watching members of a family talking about their own dysfunction, and this play captures that in a wonderful way. This story of two adult children of abusive parents trying to find a way to mend the past through understanding each other’s pain is, simply, beautifully written. I jumped at the chance to direct it.”

In A Dark Dark House opens on July 26 and continues through Aug. 31, with performances on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. A Q & A with the cast will follow the matinee performances on July 27 and Aug. 3. There will be three preview performances, on Wednesday, July 23; Thursday, July 24; and Friday, July 25, all at 8 p.m. General admission is $34.99. The Matrix Theatre is located at 7657 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046 (west of Stanley Ave., between Fairfax and La Brea). For reservations and information, call 323-960-7612 or go to www.darkhousela.com. (Please note: In A Dark Dark House contains adult language and subject matter and is recommended for mature audiences.)