Bathory Buddies: Justin Verstraete

bbjustin

Justin plays Johnno, a servant who is unceremoniously conscripted into service as Count Nadasdy’s standard bearer, where it turns out he’s unusually gifted in combat despite his low birth (at least in our production).

Like Jane Maridova, the role of Johnno was vastly expanded in the final rewrites for Countess Bathory. Originally appearing only in 1.1, Johnno was combined with the nameless Standard Bearer and even given a role in 4.2 as a way of completing his arc. The fact that the easily abused Johnno is forced into military service by Nadasdy says something about the Count’s penchant for physical abuse.

In addition to acting, Justin is an extremely accomplished fight director who has worked with countless companies here in Chicago. Countess Bathory was given some set pieces by Promethean Ensemble, and Justin was kind enough to readjust all our Alarums to fit around the new set. It seems fitting, then, that the meek and common Johnno is inexplicably transformed into an action star during Nadasdy’s fore into romantic herodom, just before reality harshly reasserts itself.

Check out Justin as he humbly kicks ass and takes (non-royal) names!

COUNTESS BATHORY is back, Thursday – Saturday. Reservations are full, but walkups are welcome. Please contact Jared McDaris (jared@wethreeplays) to be placed on our wait-list.

June 9 – 25
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30pm
4001 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste 405
ALL SEATS ARE FREE

Countess Bathory, Playwright, Theater Stuff

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