On stage: A 2014 Pulitzer finalist, The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence is set to run through Nov. 23 at the off-Broad Street Theater, 1630 Sansom St. PHOTO COURTESY OF AustinArt.Org
Azuka Theatre begins its season with a mind-bending, time-traveling new work by Madeleine George.
A 2014 Pulitzer finalist, The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence is set to run through Nov. 23 at the off-Broad Street Theater, 1630 Sansom St.
A love triangle repeats through the ages in the play where Watson — four Watsons to be precise — is the connective tissue.The plot questions the way people communicate and connect with the world at large, and the people who are right in front of them. It looks at the many ways throughout history that technology has helped and hindered that cause.
Among the cast members is David Bardeen, who lives in Fox Chase. Bardeen, 43, who is making his Azuka debut with this show, plays Merrick, the two husbands in the play, going back and forth between two different time periods.
“In 2011, I play a man running for city auditor in a mid-size American city. I am recently divorced and having a hard time adjusting to my new life,” Bardeen said.
“Then, in England in the 1880s, I play a paranoid inventor who left his corporate job and is inventing machines he hopes to sell one day.”
For this actor, one of the main challenges is dealing with the shift in time periods.
“My character tends to go on and on, using very complicated language and sentence structure. Also, having to switch characters in mid-stream is very challenging for me.”
Allison Heishman, who directs the play, said she was immediately drawn to the way the script plays with time and space.
“I’m a huge fan of Sci-Fi and time travel stories, not to mention shows and characters like Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes, both of which are currently experiencing a huge pop-culture resurgence.”
No stranger to the world of theater, Bardeen received his MFA from the Yale School of Drama. Since then, he’s appeared in many productions, including those at the Walnut Street Theatre, The Arden and the Wilma.
Earlier this year, he won the Barrymore Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Play as well as the Barrymore for Best Ensemble at Theatre Horizon.
Some years ago, he spent time in Hollywood pursuing a film career.
“I’ve already done that, and some day I might go back. But for now, I’d like to expand my acting credits in places like D.C and New York. I’d also like to start teaching acting.”
Bardeen admits that acting is where his heart is.
“For me, the biggest joy is when the whole ensemble gets together. There’s a great feeling of camaraderie, like a cohesive group all working toward one goal. That connection between the performers and the audience is ultimately what keeps me going.” ••
Tickets cost $15 to $30. For more information, call 215–563–1100.
