←Recommendations of Strange Heart Beating

A story of discovery as we find the answers to what occurred and the nature of justice. Well done.

In a tight-knit midwestern community, the body of a missing little girl washes ashore, unraveling a chain of horrific discoveries and a mystery that goes all the way to the top. Idaszak's writing carefully carries us through this heartbreaking story with theatrical imagery that is chillingly dark and gorgeous at the same time.

Idaszak’s Strange Heart Beating took me on a tragic but beautiful story about a mother’s and community's loss of a child. From heartbreakingly intimate moments between friends (or maybe more than), to mutated turkeys, it never ceased to grab my attention. The emphasis on the corruption within the justice system, particularly found in cases containing people of color is startlingly real. It also highlights how prejudice from people in power, can direct a societal view of a certain group of minorities. This is an excellent read along with a truly important and relevant message in today's world.

A moving and provocative play about problems of justice and revenge. Experimentation with style and genre gives actors and designers a lot to chew on!

An intriguing exploration of magical realism against stark realities and contemporary issues. The opening scene of a mother facing loss and her friend trying to console and consider the possibilities is heart wrenching.

I love how this play uses a familiar detective-noir structure and combines magical realism to create a story feels like a horror, but one very much connected to the world we live in today. The all-knowing lake narrates with gorgeous language, heightening the mystery of missing girls in this midwestern town. This is an intensely dark story told with great empathy for those impacted by tragedy. Idaszak is a brilliant writer who deftly crafts layers upon layers for the reader (or in my case, audience member) to excavate for a good amount of time following "end of play."

I just saw the world premiere of this play at Cloudgate in Chicago. This play couldn't be more timely. Sheriff Teeny shines her flashlight on systems designed to protect the guilty, coerce the innocent, obfuscate truth and prey on the vulnerable. It also manages to connect unnatural horrors with the abuse of nature. This play is so much more than a simple detective story. It touches on rape culture, climate change, capital punishment, racism and our unjust immigration policy. And there is so much more below the surface of that lake.