STORY STUDY - MEDIUM: PLAY - “Hearts Like Fists”
We’re going through a huge golden age of comic book, or at the very least, superhero films going on now. This trend is certainly not lost in the world of theater.
All photos are from the performance by Flux Theatre Ensemble in New York City at the Secret Theatre
Written by Adam Symkowicz, Hearts Like Fists is about four female Crimefighters and their quest to stop the murderous Doctor X, who is killing couples in their sleep by sneaking into their bedrooms, and injecting them with poison. The newest Crimefighter enlisted is Lisa, who is also dealing with her love for Peter, a doctor who is working on an artificial heart to replace his weak one.
The play premiered in 2012, the same year The Avengers did, so the timing was perfect.
The play’s theme heavily revolves around love and literally hearts. Lisa is struggling with finding a long-lasting love; Peter afraid to love too hard out of fear of his weak heart; Sally, the leader of the Crimefighters, and her relationship with the Commissioner; Nina, another Crimefighter who is obsessed with Doctor X; Doctor X’s obsession with killing couples because if he “can’t have love, then no one can.” The list goes on.
I was introduced to Hearts Like Fists at California State University, Fullerton. I went to go see it out of curiosity as I was still in the superhero phase. I wanted to see what kind of story and tone they would present, and it didn’t disappoint.
Go give it read, and if you’re lucky, take flight and go see it.
