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The Desperate Hours

Written by Joseph Hayes
Directed by Laura Coté

Show Runs from October 4 - 14, 2018

Tickets on Sale Now!

The Desperate Hours is the story of a regular suburban family whose home is taken over by three escaped Federal convicts. Needing a place to hide, the criminals hold the Hilliard family hostage, forcing them to go about their normal routine so as not to arouse suspicion, while they wait for their associate to join them. The father, Dan Hilliard, appears to cooperate with the criminals, when in reality he is using his wits in a subtle game of cat-and-mouse. Tension mounts as the authorities close in, led by a deputy
sheriff with his own dark history with one of the convicts. Who will escape first…the convicts or the family?

Loosely based on real events that occurred in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1952 The Desperate Hours was the first novel of playwright Joseph Hayes. Born in Indianapolis himself, Hayes adapted his 1954 novel to the stage the following year, and it won the 1955 Tony Awards for Best Play and Best Direction.

While the term “Home Invasion” has taken on a contemporary significance given modern news, and the story told in The Desperate Hours could easily be ripped from today’s headlines, the sad fact is that such crime has always been with us. Inspired by the popular Netflix show “Orange is the New Black,” Director Laura Coté challenges us further by changing the gender of the vicious criminals in the original story from male to female. Sadly, that too is not much different from contemporary newscasts. That being said, the
real focus of The Desperate Hours is not on crime and brutality, but instead on the true strength and resolve of family commitment and spirit.

-About the Director-

Director Laura Coté has been an MPC Theatre Arts instructor since 2010. A native New Yorker, she has called the Monterey Peninsula home since 1998. A cum laude graduate from Vassar College with a degree in Drama, Laura enjoys combining classical theatrical training with more modern approaches to teach and create unique and distinctive art. She has worked as an actress, set designer and director. Here at MPC, Laura recently directed The Adventures of Robin Hood (2018) and last season’s hit comedy Present Laughter (2017). She has also directed some of our most popular MPC Storybook Theatre shows, including The Princess and The Pea (2010), The Snow Queen (2011), Little Women (2012), and Cinderella (2013). Laura also directed Glorious (2013), For Better (2013) and Good People (2014) at the fondly remembered Magic Circle Theatre. She first discovered her calling at the age of nine when her family took her to see Annie on Broadway. Laura remembers sitting in the audience thoroughly enchanted and thinking, "I'm going to do that one day"…and now she does!

-About the Design Team-

The creative team is Laura Coté (Director), Kurt Schweickhardt (Stage Manager), Doug Ridgeway (Technical Director), Laura Coté (Scenic Design) Eric Maximoff (Master Carpenter), Doug Ridgeway (Lighting Design), D. Scott McQuiston (Sound Design), and Gloria C. Mattos Hughes (Costume Design).

ABOUT THE MPC THEATRE CHARITABLE TRUST

The Monterey Peninsula Community Theatre Company Charitable Trust is an independent 501(c)(3) created to support the MPC theatre program by funding expenses not covered by the State educational budget. 

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Performance Dates and Times:

The Desperate Hours previews Thursday, October 4 at 7:30 PM and opens Friday, October 5 at 7:30 PM. It plays Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 PM and Sunday afternoons at 2:00 PM.

Ticket Information:

For tickets visit our box office*, call (831) 646-4213 or purchase online.

Regular ticket prices are: $25 Adults, $22 Seniors, $15 Young Adults (16-21) & Military. Adults and seniors can purchase tickets 24 hours in advance for $20. Tickets to Thursday performances can be purchased at $12.50. Group discounts are available for parties of 15 or more.

Rated PG-13 due to language & violence, gunshots fired during performance

Please note: Campus Parking is required for Thursday evening performances and cost is $3.00.  Some kiosks take quarters, others only accept dollar bills.