‘Fate of the Fork’ cast applauds to a successful show. Photo by Matt Hembree (C’20).
By Sydney Leibfritz
Executive Staff
With spider goddesses, an Elven Queen, and an enraged Texan escaped from dungeons, The Fate of the Fork blends the arc of a dysfunctional family with the absurd to produce a truly memorable show.
Written by Lydia Klaus (C’19) and Mandy Tu (C’21), the play follows the eccentric Fourchette family. Though Felix and Felicia Fourchette proved the existence of Atlantis on their honeymoon 20 years ago, their love has faded with time as Felicia remains steadfast in her dream of discovering Fairyland and Felix remains at home with their two children.
Tensions are high between the duo as Felix struggles to reconnect with his wife, who has been housing her deranged cowboy lover in the dungeon for 15 years. However, when Said Texan escapes from the dungeon and whisks away one of their children, the Fourchettes are forced to reconcile their own dysfunction in order to reunite as a family and bring an end the havoc the Texan wreaks.
The Fate of the Fork served as Klaus’ senior project, one of her final requirements toward finishing theater major. Because she wanted to produce an original piece, this performance has been in the works for nearly a year. Over this time, Klaus has co-written the script, brought the story to life as co-director, and ultimately performed as one of the leading roles.
“I had an incredibly positive experience overall,” said Klaus. “The whole process struck an interesting balance between the familiar and new and exciting territory.”
Klaus was not the only one stepping into unfamiliar territory. Hannah Wood (C’21), who played Hannah Fourchette, had not been involved in theater prior to the show. However, because of her friendships with Klaus and Tu, she welcomed the new experience and had “a lot of fun.”
“It felt very natural,” she remarked. “It was similar to just hanging out with my friends on the stage.”
Wood also commended the successful turnout at both performances, particularly on the second night as she began to hone her ability to bring her offstage personality onstage.
Upon seeing the show on both nights of its run, Tristan Carico (C’20) called the performance “comedically refreshing” and expressed his excitement at seeing a number of his friends onstage: “It was fun to see their personalities coming out through their characters in a very blatant comedic way.”
Assistant stage manager Kate Graham (C’20) noted, “The Fate of the Fork had so much love put into it, from the writing to the performing. It beautifully illustrated the authors’ senses of humor, was a joy to watch, and a fantastic way to spend part of an evening.”