"Murderers" features three very renowned actors with long-standing careers - Norman Moses, Ruth Schudson and Linda Stephens. Each tells his/her own solo story as to how they became murderers and what happened afterward. The only thing that connects these characters to each other is that they all live in the Riddle Key Luxury Senior Retirement Living Center and Golf Course, a fact that provides its own brand of macabre "senior" humor.

Each actor delivers a 30-minute monologue, in a slightly different setting, describing as they go various people to which their lives are connected. Before you know it, through their precise descriptions, we feel connected to many other characters who never appear on stage, and, of course, we get to know each narrator quite well.

Each storyteller is quite distinct, their motivations for committing murder quite different, and the ends they come to, unpredictable. Hatcher has such a knack for combining the ordinary with the bizarre, for seducing us into caring for his characters despite their far-out schemes, that we are somewhat surprised at the end that we were cheering these murderers on and enjoying every minute of the process.

Moses as Gerald Halverson agrees to marry his almost mother-in-law in order to help her avoid some death tax penalties, and in the process gets himself involved in a morass of lies, only to discover that her terminal illness turns out to be a misdiagnosis, and his feelings for her do a reversal as well.

Lucy Stickler, portrayed by the illustrious Schudson, suffers a setback as well, as her husband’s former paramour suddenly appears at Riddle Key, ready again to dispense her charming favors on anyone’s vulnerable husband. But this time the hatted hustler is no match for Lucy, the avenging wife. Schudson holds us captive as she plots her ingenious strategy to punish the aging lovers. Another surprise ending.

The third vignette involves an administrator at Riddle Key. She has been outraged watching seniors being bilked by the unethical schemes of the owner of Riddle Key, observing children vying for their parents’ inheritance at any cost, commiserating with maintenance workers being taken advantage of with long hours and poor wages. Stephens as Minka Lupino is also an ardent fan of mystery novels and is thrilled when J. J. Gardner, one of her favorite authors, ends up retiring at her very own senior complex. Minka sees herself as the avenging angel, who is doing her part to render justice in an unjust world. Stephens with her soft-spoken conspiratorial manner is perfect for this part. The ending again is just as unexpected as the two others, a final coup from genius Hatcher.

Directed by the always able David Cecsarini, the show runs through Dec. 14. Call (414) 278-0765 for times and tickets.