I think the subject matter just wasn’t that interesting compared to other McDonough plays. The bloodbath of Lieutenant comes to a crescendo with the cat strolling in at the end. There just wasn’t that comic relief after a horrific scene in hangmen. I barely remember the plot compared to my vivid memories of beauty queen almost 25 years ago or pillowman. It didn’t help that hangmen takes place 50 years ago in 1965.