Penetrator March 28-May 17, 2003 by Anthony Neilson directed by Kathleen Akerley Source Theatre Co. 1835 14th St., N.W. "The action builds to an extraordinarily tense climax. A spot-on production." -City Paper       Although originally written in response to the 1991 Gulf War, Penetrator was surprisingly relevant when we produced it... opening the U.S. the very night that the U.S. began it's second war with Iraq. The play's combination of sex, violence, war, and conflicted alliances is possibly more powerful today than when it was first staged in 1994. Assailed as homophobic, sexist, and anti-war by some ­ hailed as a satirical masterpiece by others ­ Penetrator remains "a dense, provocative black comedy about war, fear, memory, and friendship! Terrifying! Powerful! Breathtakingly realistic!" Washington Post.       Max just got dumped. So, he recruits his roommate, Alan, for a stretch of card playin', dope smokin', and talkin' shit 'bout chicks. Two guys never lived better. Till the doorbell rings. It's Stiffy, a friend from Max's childhood. Stiffy's AWOL, behaving erratically, needing somewhere to go, and rambling about being locked in a dark room, sexually tortured by Penetrators.       So much for better living.       In 1990's London, Scottish playwright Anthony Neilson was at the forefront of an all-punk brat pack of playwrights who'd begun to creep from the muck into the mainstream. Among them were Philip Ridley (The Pitchfork Disney), Irvine Welsh (Trainspotting), Tracy Letts (Killer Joe), and the late great Sarah Kane (Blasted). Kathleen Akerley, artistic director of Longacre Lea, made her Cherry Red directing debut with Penetrator. Previous directing credits include Seven Blowjobs for Purchased Experiences Don't Count, and Ubu Roi for Rorschach Theatre. The cast featured Jonathon Church, Richard Price, and Peter Wylie.