Inspired by the real life story of a retired French army officer's attempts to set the world record for the longest and fastest free fall, THE WENDY COMPLEX draws upon his unrelenting ambition to do the seemingly impossibly as the creative backdrop for this new groundbreaking play. THE WENDY COMPLEX is a completely fictional account of this story, a fanciful one that worries mostly about the jumper's wife's response to such heroic recklessness.
The play tells the tail of Janvier (Kevin Reed), a daredevil who sets out to achieve a record setting leap from astonishing heights. Janvier's adoring wife, Wendy (
Atley Loughridge), seemingly supports her husband's attempt of such a daunting feat but secretly shares the fears of the locals who don't expect Janvier to succeed.
Janvier and his wife, Wendy, prepare for the jump with growing anxiety during the final days, along with the host country's prince and his wife, the financial backer of the project and a journalist. We watch the characters the night before through restless sleep, and at a formal group gathering during the final hours prior to the jump. Each character harbors a secret, haunting anxiety about the stunts' risks, yet captivated by his unleashed ambition to achieve the impractical and the excitement of witnessing such a miraculous event.
The play brings focus not to the jump itself, but rather the anticipation as Wendy and spectators alike nervously await Janvier's uncertain return. Although largely inspired by real life events, THE WENDY COMPLEX pulls upon themes from the epic tale of Peter Pan. Just as Neverland represents a place of eternal youth and allows enchantment of the unknown, THE WENDY COMPLEX explores the anticipation and uncertainty of the unfamiliar. A place where dreamers can dare to be bold and the freedom to defy mortality, even whilst pursuing the most perilous of ideas.
THE WENDY COMPLEX compares the idea of anticipating such a jump to Peter Pan's coercion of Wendy from her nursery window with flight, a story behind which lies darkness. Just as Neverland symbolized the unknown, the play challenges the characters ultimately revealing a place the audience exposes the characters of THE WENDY COMPLEX Neverland represents that strange place between sleep and death where people get madcap, heroic, record-setting and risky ideas.
Described by the play's Director, Jeremy Bloom, as "lyrical, science-y, dreamy…or a tone poem" THE WENDY COMPLEX touches upon human themes within us including fear, love, death and relationships. These themes are not only portrayed uniquely, but they are firmly grounded by the simplicity of pure realities. Bloom says of THE WENDY COMPLEX, "Flight and heights are instinctual, ingrained in the human psyche along with the unquenchable fear of falling. The situation of the play is instantly sensual and relevant. In a time of global catastrophe and apocalyptic anxieties, the small hope provided by record-setting innovation is invaluable."
Written and directed by JEREMY BLOOM (New York Fringe, NYU Tisch Grad), the cast of THE WENDY COMPLEX includes MEREDITH FORLENZA (The Funder), SARAH BILLINGTON STEVENS (Ramona), SARAH ANN MASSE (The Wife), KEVIN REED (Janvier),
Atley Loughridge (Wendy) and DILLON PORTER (The Prince).
THE VAGABOND THEATRE ENSEMBLE was founded in 2007 by a group of young innovators whose goal was to inspire a new generation of actors and theatergoers alike. THE VAGABOND THEATRE ENSEMBLE are: Jordan Cohen (Fundraising Chair), Paige Dana (Actor/ Founding Member), Bridgette Hayes (Director, Playwright, Founding Member), Sarah Ann Masse (Producing Director), Kara Peters (Actor/ Founding Member), Kevin Reed (Literary Manager), Benjamin Diskant (Secretary/ Archivist) and Sarah BilIington Stevens (Director of Development) whose mission was to establish a community of artists and story tellers committed to producing work that traverse the theatrical spectrum. "The Vagabond Theater Ensemble's ethos is simple," says Masse, "to stretch artistic boundaries and imaginations, as well as encourage unique and daring explorations," says Sarah Ann Masse.
THE WENDY COMPLEX is showing as part of this year's Midtown International Theatre Festival in New York City and will be showing at Workshop Mainstage located at 312 West 36th Street, 4th floor. Tickets for THE WENDY COMPLEX can be purchased by calling 212-279-4200 or by visiting www.ticketcentral.com. For further information on The Midtown International Theatre Festival, please visit www.midtownfestival.org.
PERFORMANCE DATES:
Monday, July 14th at 6:30pm
Tuesday, July 15th at 6.30pm
Thursday, July 17th at 8.30pm
Saturday, July 19th at 4:00pm
Saturday, July 26th at 7.00pm
Sunday, July 27th at 12.30pm
Bloom's directing credits include New York Fringe, NYU Tisch Grad. He has served as assistant to Mary Zimmerman (Metropolitan Opera), Lee Breuer (Mabou Mines), Will Patton on Dennis Johnson's 'Des Moines' (Evenstar), and Jim Simpson at The Flea with
Marisa Tomei.
The Vagabond Theatre Ensemble's mission is to establish a community of artists and storytellers, to stretch our artistic boundaries and imaginations to encourage unique and daring explorations of our humanity. They are committed to producing work that traverses the theatrical spectrum, theatre that is limitless in artistic scope and possibility. They strive to create topical and inspiring performances, to establish a dialogue between ourselves and our audience. As individuals, we are striving for active, successful, and vibrant careers in the theatre. We developed a company to call home; to return to no matter what stage of our career. It is a place to collaborate with people we love and do work we find inspiring; a place where we can focus on our art as active and supportive members of New York's artistic community.
Photo Credit Chris J. Rivera
