Theatre Exile presents the Philadelphia premiere of up and coming playwright Noah Haidle's Mr. Marmalade, directed by producing artistic director Joe Canuso. Mr. Marmalade runs November 1 through November 25 at Christ Church Neighborhood House.

The first show of Theatre Exile's 11th season, Mr. Marmalade is a twisted romp though the mind of a 4 year-old girl. Lucy's best friend is her imaginary playmate Mr. Marmalade. Unfortunately, between a high pressure job, coke addiction and anger management classes the imaginary businessman barely has room in his schedule for tea parties or playing house. In a world of neglectful mothers, sex-obsessed babysitters, and suicidal 5-year-olds, the only thing that holds Lucy's reality together is her imagination. Lucy's rudimentary reconstruction of her jagged reality results in a distorted and childlike imaginary world. Mr. Marmalade chronicles Lucy's journey through the blinding darkness of her own imagination in this play that "aims to unsettle and delight." (The New York Times).

This play is an exploration of what happens when children are exposed to an adult world that they are physically, intellectually, and emotionally too young to handle. Lucy creates a fantastical world where she is whisked away to exotic places by her imaginary friend. Mr. Marmalade provides her with adventure, the finest dining, and enchanting music to help her escape from a dreary reality. In the article "Mr. Ravioli" about The New Yorker writer Adam Gopnik's own daughter's neglectful imaginary friend, Gopnik asked, "Why is busyness the stuff our children make their invisible friends from, as country children made theirs from light and sand?" Lucy is a reflection of real children who have the ability to create worlds of wonders and magic, or "light and sand." Her colorful imagination brightens a reality where she is, so often, left alone. Yet, Lucy's dreams become grotesque fantasies when the slivers of adult reality penetrate her childhood. The result of Lucy's remarkable imagination combined with the pieces of an adult world she has yet to understand is a roller coaster that races, turns, glides, and flips through dazzling dreams and unthinkable darkness.

With Mr. Marmalade starting off its 11th season, Philadelphia Weekly declared, "no company boasts a more exciting lineup this season than Theatre Exile." Theatre Exile continues its mission to produce risky and challenging pieces, after a 10th anniversary season that earned seven Barrymore Award Nominations including Outstanding Overall Production of a Play (Glengarry Glen Ross). Glengarry Glen Ross took home the Barrymore for Outstanding Ensemble and Outstanding Supporting Actor (Harry Philibosian). Theatre Exile's nomination for Outstanding Direction (Glengarry Glen Ross) and Outstanding Leading Actor (Red Light Winter) were earned by associate artistic director Matt Pfeiffer who will be seen as George, A Cactus, and A Man in Mr. Marmalade. Pfeiffer was also one of the nominees for this year's F. Otto Haas Award for Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist. Joining him are other F. Otto Haas Award nominees Jeb Kreager, as the title character, and Millie Hiibel who is designing costumes after her Barrymore nomination for Outstanding Costume Design (La Ronde). Winner of this year's F. Otto Haas Award Matt Saunders returns as set designer for Mr. Marmalade¸ after his design work on the set for Glengarry Glen Ross last season. Charlotte Ford, who was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress (Red Light Winter), has returned to Theatre Exile to play Emily and A Flower.

After her acclaimed performances in Philly Originals: Hearts & Soles and her Barrymore Award winning performance in Killer Joe Amanda Schoonover returns as Lucy. Schoonover brings Lucy's imaginary world to life with the help of Dan Hodge, who after playing Williamson in the Glengarry Glen Ross ensemble, transforms into Mr. Marmalade's perpetually abused, personal assistant Bradley. Kristy Chouiniere, who has been seen in such productions as A Prayer for Owen Meany at the Arden and The Crucible at People's Light and Theatre Company, joins Theatre Exile for the first time to play Lucy's mother Sookie. Another Exile newcomer Robert DaPonte,who has worked with such Philadelphia companies as Wandering Rom Players, Mum Puppettheatre, Flashpoint Theatre Company, Luna Theater Company and EgoPo Productions, steps onto stage with Lucy and Mr. Marmalade as the emotionally disturbed 5 year-old Larry.

Director Joe Canuso is the producing artistic director and has directed many of Theatre Exile's shows including Red Light Winter, Full Figured/Loves to Dance, The Philly Fan, Last Call, The Gin Game, Cryptome, Burkie, Amputation Nation, Big Blonde, Live at the Apollo Diner, The Frankenharry Plays, and Belmont Avenue Social Club. He was nominated by the Barrymore Awards for Outstanding Direction of a Play for Killer Joe and was part of the Barrymore Award winning ensemble of Glengarry Glen Ross. He has also appeared as an actor in Theatre Exile productions of the dreamer examines his pillow, Parking, Rocketman, and Princess Ivona.

Playwright Noah Haidle graduated from Princeton University and the Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program at Julliard where he studied with Christopher Durang and Marsha Norman. He was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he dedicated himself to reading one play everyday in order to learn how to be a playwright. Author of Princess Marjorie, A Long History of Neglect, and Kitty Kitty Kitty (2005), Vigils (2006), Rag and Bone (2006), and most recently Persephone (May 2007), his plays have been produced at South Coast Repertory, The Long Wharf Theatre, Roundabout Theatre, and Arielle Tepper's Summer Play Festival. He wrote Mr. Marmalade while a playwright-in-residence at Juilliard, South Coast Repertory Theatre produced the world premiere of Mr. Marmalade in 2004.

TICKET INFO: Call 215-922-4462 or on the web at www.theatreexile.org. Ticket prices are $15-$40, call for specific prices and dates. Student tickets are available and substantial savings are offered for groups of 10 or more.