OUR BAD MAGNET by Douglas Maxwell

THE US PREMIERE PRODUCTION
On the shores of Scotland, three 9 year old boys begrudgingly befriend a troubled young outsider, a gifted but tormented child who harbors the ability to spin magical, often fable-like fairy tales. The boys, now men, reunite years later to try to piece together the circumstances that led to the mysterious death or disappearance of their childhood fascination.

Playwright Douglas Maxwell, one of Scotland's brightest young writing talents, uses his own unique brand of dark humor to take us on a magical journey in which the boundaries between fantasy and reality merge with unpredictable results.

Directed by Carlo Lorenzo Garcia and features Layne Manzer, John Wilson, Daniel Behrendt, and Kevin V. Smith.

Designers include Stefin Steberl (costumes), Matthew Gawryk (lights), Joe Court (sound), Sarah Bendix (Movement), Tiffany Joy Ross (Dialects), Jason Feriend (Tech/Construction). Stage Management is by Allison Goetzman. Assistant Director is Gus Menary.

PRESS CLIPPINGS:

"Under the impeccable direction of Carlo Lorenzo Garcia, the superb actors morph easily through their three stages of development and use Maxwell's mix of real and hothouse language and goth imagination to maximum effect. This gifted ensemble also makes sure the play's modern-day Grimm fairy tale quality haunts you long after you've left the theater."
-Chicago Sun-Times (Highly Recommended)

"Douglas Maxwell's sharp dialogue gets the restlessness of small-town teen life just right, and Carlo Lorenzo Garcia's well-cast American premiere for Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. features some breathtaking moments... one of the most effective and surprising endings I've seen in a while..."
-Chicago Tribune

"Carlo Lorenzo Garcia's four performers do a great job of embracing their inner boys...and the fantasy scenes enacting Giggles's stories are believably childlike, funny and touching."
- Chicago Reader

"the real genius of this show, which is watching all four delicately controlled actors maneuver with remarkable skill in portraying the characters from childhood to adulthood, with an especially nuanced performance from Dan Behrendt as the incorruptible protagonist. Director Carlo Lorenzo Garcia understands that their town is another silent character, and the presence of Girvan, Scotland hangs heavily over the play, where the show's aesthetic of stylized cliffs, tiny school chairs, and an eighties indie rock soundtrack anchors the story and keeps it from drifting too far into the world of stereotype."
-New City (Recommended)

"The drama's U.S. premiere is helped by Garcia's note-perfect cast, playing out unruly lives marked by the jagged Scottish cliffside. While Behrendt in particular compels as the ringleader turned outsider, all four actors shine..."
- TimeOut Chicago

"For anyone who wants to experience joy, sadness, and the potential to be moved to tears in their holiday theater-going experience, don't miss Our Bad Magnet."
-Edge Chicago

"Maxwell's play is rich, moving, funny and real, and well served by Carlo Lorenzo Garcia's direction, which keeps the right balance of tension and humor. All four actors are excellent, but it is a testament to Maxwell's writing that even the offstage characters seem to be entirely real, fully integrated parts of this play's world. It's a beautiful piece about how a youthful desire to achieve greatness is, at its core, more about a desire for acceptance."
-Centerstage Chicago

"This suspenseful work is a fresh take on childhood bonding and its effects on shaping the adults we become. For a well done off-beat drama, Our Bad Magnet will attract. Mary-Arrchie Theatre continues to mount stage worthy plays."
- ChicagoCritic.com (Recommended)

"The fearless young director Carlo Lorenzo Garcia was not overwhelmed by the Scottish pronunciation and all its limitations. When came across Our Bad Magnet, he seized a good story and set it into motion with very pleasing results."
-Steadstyle Chicago