CATCO Presents THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP: A PENNY DREADFUL, 6/2-6/27

The Contemporary American Theatre Company (CATCO) in Columbus, Ohio will present Charles Ludlam's THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP: A PENNY DREADFUL from June 2 thru June 27, 2010 at the Riffe Center Studio Two Theatre.

The play tells the story of Lord Edgar Hillcrest who returns to his ancestral home, Mandacrest, with a new wife, Lady Enid, after the untimely-and mysterious-death of his first wife, Irma Vep. Lady Enid soon learns life is anything but normal at Mandacrest, where werewolves run wild, a sinister housekeeper spikes the tea, and a creepy caretaker lurks just outside the parlor door. Will Lady Enid find happiness with Lord Edgar? Is Irma Vep really dead? What's inside the mummy case? Geoffrey Nelson and Jonathan Putnam play Enid, Edgar, the housekeeper, the caretaker, werewolves, vampires, mummies, and more in this comedic spoof of gothic thrillers.

CATCO first performed IRMA VEP - a cross between Rebecca and Blazing Saddles - mirth in 1990.

After graduating from Hofstra University with a B.A. in Dramatic Literature, Charles Ludlam founded The Ridiculous Theatrical Company in 1967. He was writer, director and actor for the Company, also teaching and staging productions for colleges and universities, including Yale and Carnegie Mellon. Like THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP, many of Ludlam's plays are parodies of gothic novels, Shakespeare, Wagner, old movies and anything else he felt audiences would find humorous. Ludlam received four Obie Awards, the last one two weeks before he died in May 1987.

Geoffrey Nelson, CATCO's Artistic Director, will direct the production with Jeanine Thompson as Assistant Director. The production team includes D. Glen Vanderbilt, Jr. (Set Designer), Cynthia Turnbull (Costume Designer), Mary Tarantino (Lighting Designer), and Keya Myers-Alkire (Sound Designer).

To purchase tickets, call the CATCO box office at (614) 469-0939 or visit online at www.catco.org. CATCO is located at 77 South High Street, Second Floor.

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