Orphans

Versus Theater presents the black comedy of Lyle Kessler "Orphans".

The play premiered in 1983 at the Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles starring Joe Pantoliano, Lane Smith and Paul Leiber, where it received critical and commercial success and won the Drama-Logue Award. It is now performed continually in almost every country in the world and was made into "Orphans" the film, starring Matthew Modine, Albert Finney and Kevin Anderson.

Synopsis
Two grown Orphan brothers live in an old dilapidated row house in North Philadelphia-deserted in childhood by an unfaithful father and by the death of their mother.

Older brother Treat , brutal and violent, provides for his younger brother Phillip by being a petty thief- interpreting the role of father .

With the love and protectiveness of an older brother and an orphan's fear of abandonement, Treat takes away Phiilip's chances to grow up , depriving him of knowledge and forcing him to live in a world of illiteracy and innocence,— relegating him to their childhood lost .

As Treat is out stealing to put food on the table, Phillip never leaves the house, thinking he will die from something outside because of a near deadly allergic reaction he had as a child .

Haunted by the death of their mother, he spends his time laying in her closet filled with unworn clothes, and curious about the world he secretly attempts to understand things by watching reruns of the" Price is Right", and "'underlining words" in newspapers and old books he finds laying around.

Treat kidnaps and ties up a Chicago gangster named Harold. Harold, an orphan himself, with the prowess of an escape artist, loosens the ties that bind him, turns the tables around, and with gun in hand, puts himself into the role of teacher, healer and surrogate parent .

(in Greek)