The Pain and the Itch (NHB Modern Plays)
Description of book
A hilarious social satire about liberal hypocrisy from an American writer whose work has been staged by the world famous Steppenwolf Theatre.
A cosy family Thanksgiving dinner for six. But someone - or something - is leaving bite marks in the avocados. Clay and Kelly's daughter Kayla has an itch and Carol can't remember who played Gandhi.
The Pain and the Itch holds up a mirror to those who want it all: moral superiority and a widescreen TV.
'a devastating indictment of lip-service liberalism' -
Independent
'a brilliantly satirical piece that gleefully skewers the values of the impeccably liberal rich... a terrifically entertaining, sometimes disturbing play that asks uncomfortable questions about the way the West lives now' -
Daily Telegraph
'a latter-day variation of Ibsen's
Ghosts, with the bonus of good jokes' -
Observer
'Satires seldom come so dark, nor tragedies so hilarious... The writing has a whiplash ferocity and a poisonous sense of humour... the ultimate American family play' -
Sunday Times