Displaying items by tag: Aaron Henrickson

The Heart of Gold Theatre announces the Chicago Premiere of An Intervention, a searing—and, for better or worse—timeless comedy by award-winning English screenwriter and playwright Mike Bartlett. The Tony-nominated playwright’s deft and hilarious script tells of two unlikely pals who split hairs until a fracture in their friendship fissures into a canyon, triggered by polarizing views on politics and war. The title is a sharp double entendre: one friend needs an intervention for her drinking, while the other supports a military intervention overseas.

First produced in the UK in 2014, Bartlett’s writing deploys quick-witted banter to enchant audiences and remains just challenging enough to spark engaging discussions for the ride home. Performed by two fresh and electrifying Chicago actors, Amanda Egle and Taylor Adams, what better way to bring friends and communities together than with something riotous that speaks to the moment?

Directed by Aaron Henrickson, with lighting design by Nathan Keiller and sound design by Ronald Hale, An Intervention runs 80 minutes with no intermission. 

Title: An Intervention

Playwright: Mike Bartlett

Directed by: Aaron Henrickson

Date & Time: July 23th through August 9th: Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 pm; Saturdays and Sundays at 3 pm. Note: there is NO performance Friday, July 24th

Venue: Pierce Hall at The Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-intervention-by-mike-bartlett-tickets-1991580937195

About the Playwright:

Mike Bartlett is a Tony-nominated playwright and screenwriter. The British author was Writer-In-Residence at the National Theatre, and Pearson Playwright in Residence at The Royal Court Theatre. His play King Charles III won the British Critic’s Circle Award and Olivier Award for Best New Play, and was nominated for a 2016 Tony Award for Best New Play. Bartlett’s play Cock (2009) and its companion work Bull (2013) played to accolades off-Broadway in New York.

About The Heart of Gold Theatre

“Founded in 2026, our mission is to execute exemplary, life-affirming live theatre.

We’re named after a spaceship from a science fiction novel.

Like the Greeks, we believe that theatre should be for everyone.

Like a former Chicago mayor, we believe that politicians don’t bring people together. Artists do.

And like that famous Spanish painter, we believe that art is the lie that tells the truth.

We think that theatre is the finest living exhibition of the human spirit.

We also think that it can be a total waste of time.

We promise to be that first thing.” —Taylor Adams, Artistic Director

Badfic Love, the new play directed by Aaron Henrickson and written by Adam Pasen, proudly delves into the nerdy world of fan fiction – its readers, its creators and its auditors. What is fan fiction some might ask? For those of you who are not familiar with this somewhat underground phenomena, fan fiction is the act of fans taking characters or settings from an original work (in this case Harry Potter) and creating their own storylines, steering the story into whatever direction they want, despite the fact that the work they create is hardly ever authorized.

In Badfic Love, Kyle works by day at Staples, but his nights are consumed as he is part of an organization (FIC) that monitors fan fiction writing, making sure to keep readers safe from the bad. The group particularly targets Michelle whose self-made continuation of Harry Potter is the epitome of what the organization stands against with its ridiculous storyline and poor grammar. Kyle, thoroughly condemning Michelle’s writing plans on spoofing (“sporking”) her work in his highly-followed blog to the delight of the other FIC members. However, the story takes a turn when Kyle instead falls for Michelle. What would happen to the characters should Michelle stop writing?

A good portion of Strange Bedfellows Theatre’s Badfic Love has Michelle’s fanfic of Harry Potter acted out as her story progresses. Utterly hilarious are Conor Konz and Jake Szczepaniak as Harry and Draco in this twisted adventure where the two former enemies become gay partners and Michelle writes herself in as the hero in every battle. Konz not only strikes an uncanny resemblance to Harry Potter but nails the campy dialogue going far over the top with reckless abandon while Szczepaniak is simply hysterical in his line delivery and physical comedy. But together, they are simply dynamite.

Also funny are the many references to the iconic fantasy epics such as Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and of course Harry Potter. Kyle and other likeminded individuals spend their time at a coffee shop called Middle Earth. Kyle’s favorite table is in the back just under a large picture of Legolas. Benny, a member of FIC, tries in vain to create force fields over doors or pick things up with telekinesis. Proudly donned Marvel t-shirts are worn and insults are thrown around that only have meaning if familiar with the fantasy from which they are spawned.

For the most part, the show is nonstop funny. It would be hard not to be with such an entertaining cast. Badfic Love does slow down a tad towards the end - character and plot resolution, etc, etc, but not enough to take anything away from this very amusing tale of nerdy creativity, being an outsider and finding love.

Besides the show’s fun costumes, projections and sound effects are also used to help in creating the alternative reality of our newly fashioned Harry Potter and Draco, not to mention a handful of well-choreographed fight scenes where blows are met with the trumpeting sounds reminiscent of the 1960’s Batman series. With C2E2 a couple weeks away, Badfic Love is the perfect show to take in to help in preparing your inner geek.   

Badfic Love is at the Den Theatre (1333 N Milwaukee) through May 2^nd. I should also mention that doors open a half hour before each performance for the Badfic Love Wizard Rock Concert Series (free with Badfic Love ticket) where bands including Diagon Alley, Tonks and the Aurors and Hawthorne and Holly will be performing Harry Potter-inspired rock music. A graphic novel of Badfic Love is also available for purchase. For tickets and/or more information visit www.strangebedfellowstheatre.com or call 773-697-3830.