Improv Group Presents Take On Drew Peterson Case
CHICAGO (CBS) -- While the Drew Peterson murder case has all the drama of a made-for-TV movie, the small stage is where a story about the former Bolingbrook cop's story is being told.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's Nancy Harty reports, "Waiting for Drew Peterson" is slated to start preview performances on Thursday at the Annoyance Theatre, at 4830 N. Broadway in the Uptown neighborhood.
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The improv describes the production as "an absurd look at our fascination with murderers, celebrity culture and the Internet."
In the show, two sisters, Pam and Sue, are in love with Peterson and believe he has been wrongly accused of the murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. They decide to hole up in their home, waiting for his release from jail.
"Stuck in self-confinement, Pam and Sue use the "Secret" to get their hearts' desire, post on Facebook declaring his innocence, sell clutter on Ebay to fund his defense and do Yoga," a description for the play says. "Ultimately, though, Drew can only love one of them. The polite facade is dropped as Pam and Sue go to war for Drew's love."
Joel Brodsky, Peterson's attorney, said Peterson is amused by the play.
"It's the funniest thing he's ever heard," Brodsky said after talking to his client Monday. "He said (seeing the play) is one of the first things he's going to do when he gets out."
Brodsky said he thought the play's concept was entertaining, but not that far-fetched.
"There are a few 'waiting for Drew' women out there, some that are sincere and some that are wacky," he said of the women who write to Peterson in jail.
Brodsky said he too plans to see the play.
"It sounds like an entertaining way to spend an evening," he said. "You can't lose your sense of humor."
Peterson, a former Bolingbrook police sergeant, has been held in jail for two years awaiting trial in Savio's murder. Her body was found in a dry bathtub on March 1, 2004.
Savio's death was originally ruled an accidental drowning, but her body was exhumed after Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, disappeared on Oct. 29, 2007. A new autopsy reclassified Savio's death as a homicide.
Stacy Peterson has long been presumed dead, but her body has never been found.
Peterson had been set to go to trial last summer, but the trial was halted the day before jury selection was to begin. Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow filed an appeal against county Judge Stephen B. White's ruling regarding which statements will be allowed into evidence under the hearsay exception.
Judge White retired in October. When the case finally goes to trial, another judge will preside.
The play is written and performed by Nancy Friedrich and Amy Speckien. Previews are set for Thursday and for a week from Thursday (May 26), and then the play will run on Thursdays from June 2 to July 7 at 8 p.m.
The Joliet Herald-News contributed to this report, via the Sun-Times Media Wire
