Sex, greed, chocolate. Two women share the same man and the same recipe in Hunger, a new play that explores obsession, narcissism and consumerism. Audiences at Hunger are immersed in an intoxicating world of desserts, desire and excess in a unique and unconventional look at who we are as Americans. The evening begins as the audience participates in a wine tasting and ends in a shared feast of cream and chocolate. Hunger is an experience wrapped in a play.
Playful and stylish staging by Helene Kvale —Frank Rizzo, The Hartford Courant
Hunger is commendable, complex and ambitious —BroadwayWorld.com
In collaboration with Bated Breath Theatre Company
Real Art Ways, CT
Director, Helene Kvale
Movement, Greg Webster
Scenic, Mike Billings
Costume, Laura Crow
and Sachiko Komuro
Composer, Nathan Leigh
Sound, David Sanderson
Technical, Scott Bartley
Special Effects, Paul Spirito
Photographer, Andrea Wise
Hunger started in 2009 with a question:
How does our relationship to food describe who we are as Americans today? Inspired by the collective experience of making profiteroles in my friend’s tiny apartment, I outlined the main plot: Two women share the same man and the same recipe. One of them uses the recipe to seduce him, the other to kill him.
I gathered a team of extraordinary artists who would be interested in creating a play using devised theatre methods. There were many hands stirring this pot. The director, writer and movement director worked alongside the actors to play out ideas, often discarding or reinterpreting them. The writer then crafted the story arc and dialogue, often influenced by the improvisations in rehearsal. Next, the designers and composer threw their expertise and talent into the mix, whilst the production team enabled the whole operation to flow smoothly. This devised process is stimulating and challenging because it is a true collaborative experience. Ultimately we think it leads to vibrant and organic work. We hope you agree.
Hunger was developed in and for Hartford in an attempt to create a singular experience that speaks to the nation as a whole. You, the audience are the final ingredient in our collaborative process. Welcome! We have been waiting for you. We encourage you to join in, to indulge in the Hunger experience and to come again. Every night will have a different quality because you help make the show what it is.
Bon Appetit! —Helene Kvale
