Prague Fringe: Decaffeinated Tragedy

Bad Soviet Habits World Premieres Gallery Monologue at Prague Fringe Festival

Bad Soviet Habits announces the world premiere of Decaffeinated Tragedy by Kurt Hartwig, May 22-30, 2009. This distinctive performance, adjusting typical the typical monologue with theatrical displays of fine art, will be held at the Divadlo na Prádle Kavárna.

Performances of Decaffeinated Tragedy will be at 20:45 from Friday, May 22 – Wednesday, May 27, and at 17:45 from Thursday, May 28 – Saturday, May 30.

Decaffeinated Tragedy is part memoir, part gallery display, part failed love story, and part coffee shop. It details the failure of memory and friendship and the expansiveness of mystery. The center of the storm is 21-year-old art student Jennifer Bonner. Her wit and spirit belie her physical frailty and failing heart. They don't shield her from uncertainty and despair, but call on her to understand her own nature and that of the world she wrestles with. Bonner's art is a key element to the theatrical monologue, as is the serving of several types of brewed coffee and cheesecake.

Decaffeinated Tragedy is written and performed by Kurt Hartwig. Hartwig has previously adapted and staged Lewis Carroll's The Hunting of the Snark (2002), and created the dance-theater collaboration Cat's Cradle with choreographer Luc Vanier (2005 and 2006). He also produced kinetic sculptures for ArtBikes (2005 and 2006), and produced and directed the puppet spectacle Who I Was Yesterday (2007). He worked for Divadlo Husa na Provázku in the 1992-93 season in Brno. He last lived in Prague in 2001, when he worked with Divadlo Archa, Divadlo Continuo (Kratochvílení), and again with Husa na Provázku.

Direction is by Michelle Lopez-Rios. Michelle is a native Texan and has worked around the U.S.A. as an actor, director, and voice coach. As a member of the Royal Mexican Players, she has created original productions like Nuestra Voz, Nuestra Historia (2007) and Mexicans in Milwaukee (2008) with her partner both on and off stage, Alvaro Saar Rios. She is a featured coach on accenthelp.com and is an Assistant Professor of Voice & Speech at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she most recently directed Arms and the Man (2008).

All of the artwork in the performance is by Jennifer Bonner (1966-1988). Smaller pieces she sent to Kurt Hartwig during the course of their friendship. Images of the larger pieces have been provided by her parents, Robert and Barbara Bonner of Northfield, Minnesota.

 
DECAFFEINATED TRAGEDY
A love story that never was.
By Kurt Hartwig
Produced by Bad Soviet Habits

FACT SHEET

WHAT:
Decaffeinated Tragedy is part memoir, part gallery display, part failed love story, and part coffee shop. It explores the failure of memory and friendship, and the expansiveness of mystery. The center of the storm is 21-year-old art student Jennifer Bonner. Her wit and spirit belie her physical frailty and failing heart. They don't shield her from uncertainty and despair, but enjoin her to understand her own nature and that of the world she wrestles with. Bonner's art is a key element to the theatrical monologue, as is the serving of several types of brewed coffee and cheesecake.

WHERE:
Divadlo na Prádle – Kavárna
Besední 3, 118 00 Praha 1

WHEN:
May 22-27 20:45
May 28-30 17:45
(running time: approximately 50 minutes)

CAST:
Kurt Hartwig

CREW:
Director: Michelle Lopez-Rios
Technical Support: Anthony Lyons
Lighting Design: Jason Fassl and Iain Court
Artwork: Jennifer Bonner