About Causa Mortis

World Premiere Comedy
Causa Mortis was chosen for the first play on the Rep 2009/2010 season long before the current debate over health care reform took center stage in the political arena. Author, Jacob Appel has placed hospital ethics and practices under his delightfully distorted microscope and we see a slide full of sly and outrageous images dancing in the mirror. After a night or matinee of Causa Mortis and laughter your perspective on the health care debate and certainly on your hospital will never be the same.
About the play
Causa Mortis is about an inept Medical Student who botches up hospital records, a stubborn patient with a Swiss watch in her head and two daughters trying to get her ticking properly. Add in a fellow patient who has no memory and a brain surgeon who is afraid of dying while operating and you have the ingredients for a satirical romp.
It seems that when Eleanor was young a watch was left in her head by a Swiss doctor when he removed a benign tumor. After many years mental complications begin to show up and she is scheduled twice to have the watch removed. When two brain surgeons drop dead as they prepare to operate further complications occur, –– and, this is just the beginning of the hospital frolic.

The director
Founder and Artistic Director, Bruce Millan, is the director for Causa Mortis. Mr. Millan, as a director at the Rep since its inception, has been nationally recognized as a pioneer in breaking down racial and minority casting barriers. His productions over the years have clearly and consistently demonstrated the artistic power of diversity acting in unity. Last season he directed the critically acclaimed production, Defiance, and two seasons ago directed the award winning, Southern Comforts, which featured Councle Cargle and Dorry Peltyn.
Six Ladies Invade the Stage
Once again, he has put together a diverse and talented cast capable of meeting, in this case, the comedic challenges of Causa Mortis. Sandra Birch is featured as Eleanor, the mother with a Swiss watch in her head. Last season she was the wife in Defiance. Deborah Carter will make her Rep debut as the punctilious Dr. Falk. Deborah is a product of the Rep’s professionally recognized Acting Workshop. Kelly Komlen and Leah Smith will play the daughters, Gloria and Paige, respectively, who are trying to get their mother’s head ticking. Kelly was last seen at the Rep in Yemaya’s Belly and Leah was last seen as the Doctor in the acclaimed Rep production of Going to St. Ives. Yolanda Jack will portray the Amnesiac, a woman devoid of memory and Lisa Lauren Smith will make her Rep debut as Robyn, the inept medical student.
Performance and Prices
Causa Mortis opens the Repertory’s 52nd season on November 5th and runs every Thursday through Sunday until December 27, 2008. Once again the Rep will have it’s annual NYE celebration which includes a special performance of Causa Mortis. All tickets, fundraisers, Bargain Booklets, and Subscriptions will remain the most affordable prices for not-for-profit professional theatre in the Region. General admission will remain $17 per ticket in advance and $20 at the door. The Rep’s “Anytime, Multi-use” Gold Double Subscription for two will remain the unmatched price of $100 and a Silver Single Subscription stays at $50. 10-ticket Bargain Booklets, Regular and Matinee remain $110 and $100 respectively and still make great mini-fundraisers.
For tickets, bookings and information call or visit the Rep Box office, 313•868•1347. Tickets can be purchased by phone using Visa or MasterCard.