The Pain and the Itch

Worst. Thanksgiving. Ever. Clay and Kelly share a perfect house and two perfect children in what seems to be a perfect life. That is, until Clay’s mother, Carol (a self-proclaimed socialist), his estranged brother, Cash (a staunch Republican) and Cash‘s Eastern European girlfriend (20 years his junior) arrive for Thanksgiving dinner. When something mysterious threatens to disrupt the perfect façade, the gloves come off and an awkward situation devolves into absolute chaos. A wickedly funny comedy of desire, deceit and family values by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Bruce Norris (Clybourne Park).

Director Jennifer Chambers sets the revival of this outrageous, irreverent and subversively funny satire about the politics of class and race in the Pacific Palisades — the land of palm trees, ocean views and resplendent neighborhoods.

“The great thing about Bruce Norris’ plays is that they deal with both the personal and the political,” says Chambers. “The situations he creates are tense and troubling, but also hilarious and true. He turns our perceptions completely upside down.”

The Pain and the Itch premiered at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, which Norris has called his artistic home, then played Off Broadway at Playwright’s Horizons.

The Pain and the Itch opens on Saturday, Oct. 26, continuing through Dec. 1 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. (dark Friday, Nov. 29). Two low-priced preview performances take place on Thursday, Oct. 24 and Friday, Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. General admission is $25.00; full-time students with ID are $15; previews are $12.50. The Zephyr Theatre is located at 7456 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046 (between Fairfax and La Brea). For reservations and information, call (323) 960-5774