How can you not be intrigued by a play that’s reportedly drawn “horrified shouts” and even “sudden sobbing” (according to Erica Jackson Curran in Heart Stopper, Nov. 14, 2012) from countless audiences? Hearts Full of Blood by Chicagoan James Asmus centers on two couples, one of which is trying to conceive a child. Everything’s all fine and dandy until the second act, when a certain shocking secret is revealed and the story takes a turn toward the dark side. “We were astounded about the element of surprise and how it affects an audience,” says What If?’s Kyle Barnette, who plays one of the leads in Hearts Full of Blood. “When we did a short run of this show back in November comments varied from ‘Oh my God, no!’ to ‘Oh shit!’ — which someone said out loud at the end of the first act.” The show drew rave (and horrified) reviews during that first run, and now that What If? is on their second go-around with it, the performances should be even sharper.
Stay cool. Support City Paper.
City Paper has been bringing the best news, food, arts, music and event coverage to the Holy City since 1997. Support our continued efforts to highlight the best of Charleston with a one-time donation or become a member of the City Paper Club.