Stalking the Bogeyman (play)

Stalking the Bogeyman

Stalking the Bogeyman Off-Broadway Poster

Original Off-Broadway Poster
Written by Markus Potter & David Holthouse
Place premiered

North Carolina Stage Company
Asheville, North Carolina Off-Broadway

London
Original language English
Official site

Stalking the Bogeyman is an American play by Markus Potter and David Holthouse with additional writing by Shane Zeigler, Shane Stokes & Santino Fontana. It is based upon David Holthouse's Westword newspaper article, where Holthouse wrote about how he had once planned to kill his childhood rapist.[1][2] Potter chose to adapt the play after listening to Holthouse's story on a This American Life podcast,[3] and the play had its world premiere at the North Carolina Stage Company in September 2013. An off-Broadway production ran September 29, 2014 - November 9, 2014 at New World Stages.[4][5] A new production of the play will open in London on Wednesday 11 July 2016.

Synopsis

When he was seven David Holthouse was raped by a 17-year-old acquaintance that he knew through friends of his parents. The teenager threatened to kill him if he did not comply with his wishes and after he was finished, David was threatened with violence if he did not keep quiet. Twenty five years later, David can no longer remain silent, when he learns that the man who destroyed his childhood has moved into his new neighborhood. With key ties to the leader of an Arizona gang and other illicit connections, David meticulously plans the murder of the Bogeyman.

Productions

Production Producer(s) Run
World Premiere North Carolina Stage September 18 - October 13, 2013[6]
Off-Broadway NewYorkRep September 29, 2014[7] - November 9, 2014 [8]
West Coast Premiere University of Alaska Anchorage April 1 - April 24, 2016[9]
Off-West End London David Adkin & NewYorkRep July 13 - August 6, 2016

Off-Broadway
The Off-Broadway production was Directed by Markus Potter. The production included scenic design by David Goldstein, Costume Design by Tristan Raines, Lighting Design by Cory Pattak, and Original Music and Sound Design by Erik T. Lawson. The cast included Murphy Guyer, Roxanne Hart, Erik Heger, John Herrera, Roderick Hill, and Kate Levy.

Off-West End of London

Stalking The Bogeyman opened at Southwark Playhouse Theatre, London on 13 July, running to 6 August 2016. The production, again directed by Markus Potter, features Gerard McCarty and Glynis Barber. Set & costume design is by Rachel Stone, lighting design by Rob Casey, original music by Eric T. Lawson, sound design by David Gregory and Casting by Anne Vosser. It is produced by David Adkin and NewYorkRep in association with Joel Fisher, Adam Richman and The Telling Company.[10][11]

Cast

Character Off-Broadway[12] Off-West End
David Holthouse RODERICK HILL GERARD MCCARTHY
Bogeyman ERIK HEGER MIKE EVANS
Nancy Holthouse KATE LEVY GLYNIS BARBER
Robert Holthouse, Emmit Jacobson MURPHY GUYER GEOFFREY TOWERS
Russ Crawford, Payaso, Coach Billy JOHN HERRERA JOHN MORIATIS
Carol Crawford, Dr. Leavitt* ROXANNE HART AMY VAN NOSTRAND

*In the Off-West End Production, the character of Dr Leavitt was replaced with the character of Molly.

Reviews & Critical Response

North Carolina

Critical reception for the North Carolina performance was positive and the Citizen-Times praised the play's cast.[13][14]

Off-Broadway

“BREATHTAKING! Based on the riveting true story adapted from This American Life, the production’s trip to the stage has only deepened it.”[15]
- The New York Times

“DON’T MISS Stalking the Bogeyman. A dynamic play of sobering substance. Well-written and sensitively acted. Potent stuff that never soft soaps the issues and leaves you stunned. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."[16]
- Rex Reed, New York Observer

“One of the most powerful and gripping pieces of theatre you will find anywhere in New York. RUN & SEE IT! Given the subject matter and thought-‐provoking performances, STALKING THE BOGEYMAN is going to engage you well beyond the final blackout. This isn’t an easy play to forget.”[17]
‐ BroadwayBox.com

“Potter’s stark, unforgiving staging and matter-‐of-‐fact design.”[18]
‐ Talkin’ Broadway

“The successful dramatization owes as much to Markus Potter’s effective narrative structure as to its thoughtful staging, design and excellent ensemble.”[19]
‐ The Broadway Blog

“Careful and cogent direction by Markus Potter.”[20]
‐ Huffington Post

“Markus Potter has created a production that is impeccable in its stagecraft.”[21]
‐ New York Theater

“A shattering true story – and as adapted and directed by Markus Potter the effect is viscerally powerful.”[22]
‐ Northern Valley Suburbanite / NJ.com

“Consistently precise blocking, effective narrative structure, and thoughtful staging from Markus Potter.”[23]
‐ The Broadway Blog

“This is a fascinating study of human understanding, compassion, and grace. Issues of sexual molestation and abuse have long been topics for movies of the week and television crime dramas, but watching this story unfold on stage brings a visceral permanence to an awkward and uncomfortable topic. Kudos to adaptor and director Markus Potter for handling such a delicate matter with dramatic strength and truth."[24]
‐ Manhattan Digest

“Good theater boils down to one thing: a great story, told well. STALKING THE BOGEYMAN adapted and directed by Markus Potter is a gripping tale based on the true story of David Holthouse.”[25]
‐ Broadway.com

“A successful dramatization with effective narrative, thoughtful staging, and excellent ensemble.”[26]
‐ The Broadway Blog

“Brave storytelling of a delicate subject – something you don’t see often in the theatrical world. Each second of this new play directed by Markus Potter is an exciting revelation.”[27]
‐ NY Theater Now

“A fast-‐paced powerful new play directed by Markus Potter that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Definitely a play I will think above for a long time.”[28]
‐ David Lally, NY Theater Now

“Nakedly honest. Stalking the Bogeyman stands on its own engaging integrity even before you add in that it’s based on a true story. It’s something for everyone to explore – and they will proceed to process it in their minds for a long time.”[29]
‐ Metro

“Could not be better! A highly important play that demands to be seen.”[30]
‐ Northern Valley Suburbanite / NJ.com

“Important theater does more than entertain, and some stories, like this one left me breathless. ..Intimate, Deeply Compelling, & Powerful.”[31]
‐ Flavorpill

References

  1. ↑ Holthouse, David. "Stalking the Bogeyman". Westword. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "Killer instinct". Mountain Express. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "'Stalking the Bogeyman': Plot to Kill Child Rapist Comes Alive". Yahoo/Good Morning America. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Reporter Once Plotted to Murder Man Who Raped Him at 7". ABC News. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  5. ↑ ""Stalking The Bogeyman" off-Broadway". Kickstarter. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  6. ↑ "Stalking the Bogeyman *World Premiere!*". NC Stage. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  7. ↑ "Story of reporter who stalked and planned to murder man who raped him when he was 7 will be off-Broadway play". NY Daily News. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  8. ↑ "Stalking the Bogeyman Overview". NY Times. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "Stalking the Bogeyman". Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  10. ↑ Gardner, Lyn (18 July 2016). "Stalking the Bogeyman". The Guardian: 29.
  11. ↑ "Southwark Playhouse Stalking the Bogeyman". southwarkplayhouse.co.uk.
  12. ↑ "About Stalking the Bogeyman". Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  13. ↑ "Review: 'Stalking the Bogeyman' creepy, powerful". Citizen-Times. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  14. ↑ "The Monster in the Closet: A Review of "Stalking the Bogeyman"". Montreat College. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  15. ↑ "Damaged for Life, and Inexorably Bent on Revenge". New York Times. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  16. ↑ "Madcap Kaufman and Hart Revival Is Stark Contrast to 'Stalking the Bogeyman'".
  17. ↑ "5 Reasons To Run and See Stalking the Bogeyman".
  18. ↑ "Stalking the Bogeyman Review".
  19. ↑ "Review: Stalking the Bogeyman".
  20. ↑ "Review: Stalking the Bogeyman - Huffington Post".
  21. ↑ "Stalking the Bogeyman Review - Revenging Childhood Rape".
  22. ↑ "This True Bogeyman Story is Worth Seeing".
  23. ↑ "Review: Stalking the Bogeyman - Broadway Blog".
  24. ↑ "Theater Review: Stalking Bogeyman - Manhattan Digest".
  25. ↑ "Stalking a Great Story".
  26. ↑ "Review: Stalking the Bogeyman - Broadway Blog".
  27. ↑ "Stalking the Bogeyman - NY Theater Now Review".
  28. ↑ "Stalking the Bogeyman - NY Theater Now Review".
  29. ↑ "Theater Stalking the Bogeyman Mini-Review".
  30. ↑ "This True Bogeyman Story is Worth Seeing".
  31. ↑ "Community Culture Curator Stalking the Bogeyman".
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