May 21 – June 13, 1999
At the Ontological Theater at St. Mark's Church
New York City

Description:
Paw Paw's Famous Canned Peas are selling like hot cakes. What the unsuspecting vegetable-eaters don't know is that those tasty peas are laced with a potent and addictive drug that has sparked an epidemic of suicide jumps in their fair city.

Ivan, the ringleader of Paw Paw's illicit operation, has more pressing concerns. His years of indulging in the drug have made him immune to its glorious effects. Jealousy has ensued and Ivan's appetite for his own absurd pleasure is now all-consuming. With the help of his assistant Molly and their new Amish employee Jacob, he lures amateur performers over to the decrepit warehouse for a talent show and, in a cockamamie and unsuccessful attempt at happiness, watches their "audition," then viciously thrill-kills them.

As if things weren't bad enough, in response to the suicide jumps, an investigation into the peas is launched. Ivan discovers that his trusty (but dim) chef Karl has been accidentally pumping a pure form of the drug into the peas, sending everyone into the stratosphere. Faced with one miserably failed thrill after another, Ivan demands pure chunks of the stuff from Karl. Once taken, these chunks send him into a delirious vaudevillian dream world of dancing bears and oompah bands. His appetite for pleasure is now downright ravenous.

As the National Guard closes in, the machines start to break down and the whole operation tumbles into sheer idiocy, Ivan shamelessly goes for broke. Determined to take his lurid team with him on his way to maximum pleasure, he masterminds a ramshackle plan for a most grisly, selfish, and hilarious grand finale.

Produced by
Hangdog Theater

Written, directed, and scored by
Robert Cucuzza

With
Ryan Bronz as Jacob
Robert Cucuzza as Ivan
Laura Kachergus as Molly
David Cote as Karl
Sally Eberhardt as Ms. Fuentealba
Vladimir Ambía as Senor Santeangelo
Cristina Nunes as Tiffany Taylor
D.J. Mendel as Senor Santeangelo (June 3-6)

Set and Costume Design
Merope Vachlioti
Lighting Design
Rick Martin
Bear Choreography
Johanna S. Meyer

Sound Board Operator
Alexis Sottile
Technical Director
Andy Biscontini
Stage Manager
Cristina Nunes
Assistant Director
Sally Eberhardt
Light Board Operator
Luce Remy

Publicity
Manny Igrejas
Flamenco Consultant
Frida Ambía
Postcard Artist
R. Sikoryak
Photographer
Ben Fiering
Box Office Manager
Michelle Borth
Assistant to Mr. Callahan
Herman Eberhardt