The Pain and the Itch

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. Bruce Norris's play The Pain and the Itch holds up a mirror to those who want it all: moral superiority and a widescreen TV. It was first staged by Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago in June 2005. The play received its New York premiere at Playwrights Horizons in September 2006, and was first performed in the UK at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in June 2007. '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