Apocalyptic Butterflies
Cast size: 5 (3W, 2M)
It's Christmas Eve in Fryeburg Maine, and Hank Tater has fallen on hard times. He wakes up to find his house surrounded by totem poles, his baby still in need of a name, and his wife ready to split for Howard Johnson's. It would take a miracle to get his life back together, but miracles come to pass--a toe walks to the hospital, the Three Kings stop by, and a married couple rediscovers their love for one another.
Premiered at Yale Rep (1987)
Directed by Richard Hamburger
Reviews:
"Embedded within the witty and often very funny dialogue is a sometimes uneasy treatise on the complications of marriage, family and domestic bliss. It is to MacLeod's credit that she handles these situations with a genuine fondness for her wacky characters, treating them with a kind understanding. The result is a charming, eccentric comedy." --The Chicago Sun-Times
("Highly recommended")"MacLeod's writing displays a remarkable tenderness for the unhappiness of the latter-day, hinterland male..." --Chris Jones, The Chicago Tribune
"A witty and humane comedy of married life..." --Richard Christiansen, The Chicago Tribune
Press bibliography:
Christiansen, Richard. "'Butterflies' is a tender showcase of familial crisis turning into domestic bliss." Chicago Tribune 18 November 1988.
Houlihan, Mary. "Flighty 'Butterflies' free to entertain with its dark humour." Chicago Sun-Times 2 July 2003.
Erstein, Hap. "Daughter's visit home sends up the curtain." The Washington Times 29 November 1991.
Erstein, Hap. "Easy laughs, performances set the 'Butterflies' free." The Washington Times 28 November 1991.
Jones, Chris. "'Butterflies' frees the audience to feel its pain." Chicago Tribune 25 June 2003.
McCulloh, T.H. "'Butterflies': View of a Marriage." Los Angeles Times 14 November 1990.
Rose, Lloyd. "'Butterflies': High-Flying Innocence." The Washington Post 27 November 1991.