Top of the World

By Catherine Butterfield
Originally Produced at Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Fall, 2022

A riveting psychological thriller makes its world premiere at The Rep. Following the suicide of his wife, television crime show runner Brendan Murray desperately seeks any clues he might have missed. The mystery deepens when an episode of Brendan’s TV show begins to mirror his real-life tragedy all too closely. As Brendan and his family replay their memories seeking answers, they only unlock more questions. One question looms above the rest: how do they find a pathway to healing?

Artistic Statement: Catherine Butterfield’s new play Top of the World is a powerful and riveting treatise on the psychological journey through grief. Facing the unyielding question: “what did I miss” in the face of a loved one’s suicide, Top of The World feels particularly timely and important as our society grapples with countless sudden losses due to the pandemic. We seek explanation as a means of solace even as we know no amount of information or data could sufficiently soothe our collective spirit. Butterfield’s insightful style that blends elevated theatricality with fast-paced television thriller feels fresh and compelling and avoids many of the maudlin tropes of grief-centered plays. Ultimately, the play is a beautiful, complicated quest for a pathway to healing. I look forward to supporting the final stages of development and sharing Top of The World with St. Louis audiences and beyond.

Grant Statement: With the generous support of the Edgerton Foundation, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis will have the opportunity to rehearse this world premiere for an additional week. Top of The World is an important new work for the cannon and will undoubtedly benefit from this more robust rehearsal period. This additional week will provide a critical chance for deep and nuanced script development time with the playwright, director, and cast. We are also pleased to be able to support a more fulsome technical rehearsal and preview period in order to incorporate learnings from the first handful of live audiences to hear the play.