Radiant Vermin examines the underbelly of living well

You can experience a dark comedy at the Depot Theatre in Westport, New York, this season, one that asks how far would you go to have it all? 

The play Radiant Vermin by British playwright Philip Ridley is set around a couple’s dream of the perfect home, but behind the closed doors are sinister secrets of the haves and have nots.

The story centers on Jill and Ollie, a young couple who are unexpectedly offered the chance to own their ideal home through a mysterious government housing initiative. At first, it seems too good to be true — and it is. They soon discover the house only upgrades itself, adding luxurious features like new appliances and extra rooms, when they take grisly actions against vulnerable people in society.

The text of the play questions whether we should cast judgment on Jill and Ollie. Their desire for a better life mirrors our own—an almost universal longing for greater comfort and security.  With sharp, unsettling humor, Ridley’s play brings our collective guilt to the surface. He forces us to confront it directly, revealing the uncomfortable truth: each step toward a more luxurious life may come at the expense of others, people on the margins.

For audience members, this show comes with an opportunity to help families in need in the Boquet Valley and Willsboro school districts. Raffles during Depot Theatre performances support the national BackPack Program, which provides children with easy-to-prepare meals.  

Returning to the stage in Westport for this show is actor Peter Corley. He’s joined by Laura Menzie and Emily Abruzzi, both making their debut at the Depot.

Mountain Lake PBS is the proud production sponsor of Radiant Vermin at the Depot Theatre.