Produced by the Subterranean Theatre Company in March 1998 at the Hyde Park Theatre, Austin, Texas. Directed by Ken Webster.

About the play
A neurotic urban poet whose new husband has disappeared. A cranky crisis hotline operator with problems of her own. An absurdly good-looking underwear model and his 300-pound ex-lover. Who's at the top of this food chain? The Food Chain is "sheer and deliriously happy screwball farce about seriously disturbed people" by Nicky Silver, the author of Pterodactyls.

   Back: Blake Yelavich, David Jones, Katherine Catmull;
   Front: Lana Dieterich and Douglas Taylor in STC's 
   production of The Food Chain by Nicky Silver. 
   Photo copyright Brett Brookshire, 1998.

What the critics said . . .
" . . . a hysterical evening, full of giant, situational jokes that are like verbal slapstick. You can see a wild gleam of unrestrainable joy in the eyes of the cast. Doug Taylor is perfect as the food-obsessed Otto. . . . Blake Yelavich flavors Serge with more than bare-chested narcissism, giving him a layer of vulnerability that leaks through the glamorous facade. Lana Dieterich is a stitch as the not-so-helpful helpline staffer Bea . . . David Jones . . . makes the most of hangdog looks and meaningful expressions."
Austin Chronicle (read the full review here)

" . . . an often-hilarious contemporary comedy . . . Nicky Silver's wild, biting poke at modern life . . . In a grand and broad comic foray, Douglas Taylor is hilariously overstuffed to portray a seemingly 350-pound Otto. . . . Mr. Taylor's wonderful performance is a rolling ball of sight gags with verbal geysers."
Westlake Picayune

Awards and Nominations
Austin Circle of Theatres Nominations
Lana Dieterich for Outstanding Supporting Actress

Critics' Table Award
Douglas Taylor for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy

Cast
Amanda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katherine Catmull
Bea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lana Dieterich
Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Jones
Serge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blake Yelavich
Otto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Douglas Taylor

Designers and Staff
Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ken Webster
Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blake Yelavich
Costume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diane Morrison
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Don Day
Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Britta Thompson
Stage Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tammy Whitehead
Assistant Director . . . . . . . . . . . Rebecca Robinson

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