Villainous Company
Play Description
When Claire returns home from an afternoon of shopping, she discovers one of her packages is missing. Coincidentally, just as she is calling the store, a staff member stops by to return the item, then manages to invite herself inside. Before long, larceny and trickery abound as the two women, soon joined by a third, compete in a suspenseful game of cat-and-mouse.
Production Info
Cast: 3 total (3 female)Full Length Drama (about 100 minutes)
Single Set
Contemporary Costumes
- Reviews
- About the Author(s)
- About the Book
- Special Notes
- Productions
Press Quotes
“A three-character drama that keeps you guessing … the lingering pauses which punctuate the tersely written dialogue lend an extra soupçon of suspense and even some unspoken sexual tension … [Mr Cahn] neatly resolves the play with a double cross (or perhaps even a triple cross) of a conclusion that ties up his agreeable little caper with a nifty bow.” —The New York Times
“VILLAINOUS COMPANY offers a teasing glimpse into a brightly lit shadow-world, where three smart, strong, bad girls perform — without a cop, a man, or a righteous authority figure in sight — a slow-dance of deceit, betrayal, and glossy illusion.” —Asbury Park Press
“Unexpected twists, surprising character revelations, and an all-woman cast is part of the fun watching VILLAINOUS COMPANY … This is a diverting and mysterious tale where everything and everyone is not quite what they seem to be, which is part of the point and definitely most of the fun … The three actresses each hold their own and have a strong grasp of the complicated characters that they are playing — always more than meets the eye. I suspect the playwright is having some fun here with our traditional ideas and expectations about class and power, sex and gender roles. The subtext of the play’s often witty dialogue seems to be determining who is the more and the less powerful player in any given exchange. Characters take hold of, enjoy, and give away that power as more of the mystery, and more and more of the twists are revealed to us. Because this is an all-female cast, those power dynamics are less obvious and a lot more interesting than we might usually imagine or expect. And that provides a fresher take on a class theater trope.” —Tri City News
“Often funny and unendingly intriguing, it feels like an Alfred Hitchcock thriller.” —Theatermania
Author(s)
Victor L CahnVictor L. Cahn has written numerous plays produced Off-Broadway and regionally, including VILLAINOUS COMPANY, ROSES IN DECEMBER, EMBRACEABLE ME, FIT TO KILL, DALLY WITH THE DEVIL, A DISH FOR THE GODS, ROMANTIC TRAPEZOID, GETTING THE BUSINESS, BOTTOM OF THE NINTH, and SHERLOCK SOLO, a one-man show that he performed. He has appeared onstage throughout the Capital Region of New York, taking leading roles in works by Shakespeare, Shaw, Pinter, Coward, Ayckbourn, Simon, Gurney, Christie, and Knott. He is Professor Emeritus of English at Skidmore College, and author of fifteen books (seven on Shakespeare), and his articles and reviews have appeared in such varied publications as Modern Drama, The Literary Review, The New York Times, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and Variety.
Book Information
| Publisher | BPPI |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | 6/29/2018 |
| Pages | 66 |
| ISBN | 9780881457773 |
Special Notes
If original stage producers credits appear in bold below, all licensees are required to include them in the following form on the title page in all programs distributed in connection with performances of the Play and in all advertising in which the full cast appears in size of type not less than ten percent (10%) of the size of the title of the Play:
VILLAINOUS COMPANY had a developmental production at the Clurman Theatre in New York City
in January 2015 produced by Rachel Reiner Productions LLC and directed by Eric Pamess
It then received its World Premiere at New Jersey Repertory Company, Long Branch, New Jersey,
SuzAnne Barabas, Artistic Director and Cabor Barabas, Executive Producer
In addition, the following must appear within all programs distributed in connection with performances of the Play:
by special arrangement with Broadway Play Publishing Inc, NYC
www.broadwayplaypublishing.com