Catch-22 (play)
| Catch-22 | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Joseph Heller |
| Characters |
John Yossarian Chaplain Tappman Milo Minderbinder Captain Black Doc Daneeka McWatt |
| Date premiered | 1971 |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Satire, Drama |
| Setting | Italy |
Catch-22 is a satirical, historical fiction, theatre production by the American author Joseph Heller, first produced in 1971 and based on his novel of the same name.
Plot
The story follows Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bombardier, and a number of other characters. Most events occur while the airmen of the Fighting 256th (or "two to the fighting eighth power") Squadron are based on the island of Pianosa, west of Italy. Many events in the story are repeatedly described from differing points of view, so the reader learns more about the event from each iteration. Furthermore, the events are referred to as if the reader already knows all about them. The pacing of Catch-22 is frenetic, its tenor intellectual, and its humor largely absurd, though interspersed with moments of grisly realism.
Production history
Until recently this show has had relatively low success and has never been performed on Broadway as was originally intended. However Aquila Theatre produced a stage adaptation of Catch-22 directed by Peter Meineck and based on Heller's own play which he wrote in 1971. This production toured the USA in 2007/8 and a New York City production began in November at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, opening on November 23rd 2008.[1]