Synopsis:

And They Never Recovered From The Shock is a quartet of original and adapted one-acts designed to showcase the expressive versatility and power of physical theater, using both comedy and drama to explore its overall theme.

Act One is the original comedy “Know Your Onions”, written by Rachel Kodweis, which pits ace pitcher Angelica Nettle against local batting legend Marty Chesterton at the 1939 Monroe County baseball pitching exhibition. Presented on a slightly elevated tréteau (small stage), all the action happens within a 4 foot by 6 foot space, with each actor playing multiple roles — and in some cases, the scenery too.

Act Two is “Petra”, a short tale of mythic proportions adapted for a solo actor from Roberto Bolaño’s novel (and Javierantonio Gonzalez’s play) Distant Star. It tells the true — and more-than-true — story of artist and performer Lorenza Boettner, who grows up without arms after a childhood accident. Migrating from the oppressive Pinochet regime in Chile to the bohemian streets of Europe, Lorenza dances her way into history as Petra, the beloved emblem of the 1992 Paralympic games.

Act Three is the original piece from which the overall show takes its name, “And They Never Recovered From The Shock”. It is a poetic, experimental meditation on how we respond to the shock of catastrophic loss, expressed via a pastiche of found and original texts, and integrated into a powerfully atmospheric soundscape.

Act Four is the debut of Infinite Spark’s signature adaptation of Chekhov’s “The Bear”, retitled “The Beast”. In it, two apparent opposites must see if they can overcome their stubbornness in time to seize the chance to love with abandon. Jon and Rachel are joined by virtuoso Jonathan Lowery as the old butler Luka, in a madcap, no-holds-barred farce that shatters the fourth wall and turns the physicality up to 11.

Performance History:

And They Never Recovered From The Shock was Infinite Spark’s premiere production upon moving to Rochester, NY, from New York City. It premiered in September 2022 at the Geva Theatre Center as part of that year’s Rochester Fringe Festival.

Cast:

Know Your Onions: Rachel Kodweis, Katherine Marino, Drea Bim, Jennifer Nieves, Jon Froehlich

Petra: Jon Froehlich

And They Never Recovered From The Shock: Rachel Kodweis, Drea Bim, Jennifer Nieves, Jon Froehlich

The Beast: Rachel Kodweis, Jonathan Lowery, Jon Froehlich (with special appearance by Jen Nieves and Drea Bim)

Special Thanks:

Kendal Fafard (Assistant Direction and Stage Management)

Julio Nieves (Videography)

Dan Kodweis (Treteau Construction)