What if ICE raided the Ice House?

In a manner of speaking, that’s the premise of “The Watcher,” an original drama produced by the Crowded Kitchen Players.

“The Watcher,” written and directed by Ara Barlieb, co-founder with Pamela Wallace of Crowded Kitchen Players, now in its 25th anniversary season, continues through Oct. 19 in its world premiere in the Charles A. Brown Ice House, Bethlehem.

The iceHouse Performing Arts Collaborative is a nonprofit organization based at the Ice House that “believes in the power of the arts to serve community needs, grow our resident artist community and establish an accessible stage for our richly diverse population,” according to its mission statement on the “IceHouse Tonight” website.

“Now in its ninth year, the effort was established to serve and share the arts of the local culture. With programming focused on the work of the resident arts community, the presentations shine a light on our local values, issues, and heritage.

“In the coming year, over 800 local artists - poets, songwriters, musicians, comedians, magicians, actors, dancers and storytellers from over 40 arts organizations - will take the IceHouse stage.”

The Crowded Kitchen Players’ production turns the concept of the iceHouse Performing Arts Collaborative upside down. It’s meta. “The Watcher” metaphorically lays siege to the Ice House. It lays bare the axion, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

The minute you enter the Ice House performance space, you notice something’s afoot. Yellow police tape cordons off seats and stage, chairs are upturned, and remnants of props, presumably from the last production, litter the stage. The Oct. 11 performance of “The Watcher” was seen for this review.

“The Watcher” is said to take place in “the immediate future,” according to the play’s synopsis on the Crowded Kitchen Players’ website.

“Theater in America is being strictly monitored by the State, and no performances are allowed without State approval. Those who violate the State’s rules are subject to severe punishment,” states the theater troupe’s website.

As “The Watcher” begins, masked and black-clad law enforcement officers, who are not identified as United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, have entered the Charles A. Brown Ice House, where they interrogate a suspect, The Watcher (Sharon Ferry), who tells them she is a watchman guarding a shut-down theater.

The Watcher herself is being subjected to what could charitably be termed torture. On her head is a bucket, which three unnamed agents (Trish Cipoletti, Pamela Wallace, Sophie Wheeler) take turns whacking with their nightsticks. The realistically-depicted punishment is loud, booming over the performance space, so much so that I found myself turning away or hiding my eyes in my hands when The Watcher is whacked.

The show’s empty stage setting at the Ice House is pertinent and practical. The actors portraying the law enforcement officers come off as particularly malicious. The officer played by Cipoletti seems especially abusive, almost relishing the chance to play a real-life human version of Whac-A-Mole.

When the interrogation seems to be at its apotheosis, low and behold, there are shouts from the upper reaches of the Ice House, and a second set of agents (Tran Phuong and Dave Polgar) show up. They battle the other agents for control of the suspect.

What ensues is an often macabre, ironic and sometimes hilarious depiction of the interrogation, including rapid-fire questioning, retorts by the subject, and arguments, yelling and fighting between the armed agents. The proceeding turns grimly serious when the technique of waterboarding, or controlled drowning, is introduced.

Cipoletti paces the stage, sure in the certainty of her mission. She is wiry, guileless and intense in a thoroughly believably performance.

Phuong represents a macho presence from the outset. Slowly, his bravado seems to unravel, until ... but that would be telling.

Ferry portrays the victim sympathetically, so much so that not for a minute do you doubt her story nor her ... but that would be telling.

Barlieb doesn’t let up with the play’s intensity, keeping the actors on a short leash that unleashes the horror unfolding before your very eyes until ... but that would be telling.

Yes, there’s a twist in “The Watcher.” I didn’t see it coming. To reveal the plot would be ruin the performance for you. And I’m not telling.

Does that make me a Watcher, too? Or does that make me a masked agent? The play may make you examine your own role and intentions.

“The Watcher” is a play that needs to be seen by you. It’s thought-provoking, unnerving and chilling. You might say it’s the ICE-ing on the reality cake. See the show and help the Crowded Kitchen Players blow out some candles for their 25th anniversary.

“The Watcher,” 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10, 11, 17, 18; 2 p.m. Oct. 12, 19, Crowded Kitchen Players, Charles A. Brown Ice House, 56 River St., Bethlehem. 610-704-6974, https://www.ckplayers.com/