Avalanche Theatre’s ‘They Broke Up’ Is A Hilariously Absurd End-Of-The-World Comedy
A breakup, an impending apocalypse, and a world where just about anything can happen, Avalanche Theatre’s They Broke Up turns the chaos of modern life into an outrageous comedy, fueled by an ensemble that commits wholeheartedly to every ridiculous twist along the way.
One of the things I love about live theatre is the energy you can feel in the room. When an audience is engaged in a comedy, the actors feel it, and it often elevates the performances. Physical comedy gets bigger, pauses for laughter get longer, and occasionally, you can even see an extra twinkle in the eyes of the actors on stage. Everyone in the room is connected for a few hours, celebrating the experience together, whether what’s happening feels completely logical or is entirely off the wall.
They Broke Up is the new production from Avalanche Theatre. “It’s New Year’s Eve, and it sure looks like the world is ending. But much more importantly, Brett and Amy have just broken up. As aliens pollute the water, zombies run for Congress, birds ravage the housing market, and an apocalyptic cult plans for the end of days, Brett and Amy’s friends scheme to reunite them while the ex-couple themselves try to navigate a world with an end-date and a world without each other.”
Written by Skyler Tarnas and directed by Owen Hickle-Edwards, They Broke Up is a fast-paced, offbeat comedy packed with laugh-out-loud moments. Beneath the absurdity, however, is a surprising amount of commentary on politics, cancel culture, water insecurity, unregulated technological growth, and, perhaps most importantly, what real love actually looks like.
The show opens in a living room where decorations, streamers, poofs, and cutouts on the walls celebrate just about every holiday imaginable. There’s a Happy New Year banner alongside birthday decorations, red and pink hearts, a skeleton, and all kinds of tchotchkes on a small shelving unit. A turquoise silk sofa sits in the middle of the room beside a cushioned chair and a white plastic chair that looks as though it was burned and saved from some wreckage. Everything rests around a circular purple shag rug. Along with some creative costume choices, the entire setting gives the impression of a world where styles are a little different and people make the most of whatever they can salvage.
The ensemble is completely locked in, both with their characters and with each other. The friendships and familiarity among them feel genuine, and that chemistry adds another layer of entertainment for the audience. From one character’s introduction in nothing but a hand towel to two others Voguing between events, everyone is in on the joke and completely committed to the bit. That commitment makes even the most ridiculous moments work.
There is quite a bit of story packed into this show, and it can be easy to get lost in the sauce between the flesh feasters, the invading birds, and South Dakota seceding from the union. But sometimes, it all just goes into the pot of absurdity that makes up this world. You don’t have to process every nook and cranny to enjoy it, so it’s easy to find yourself thinking, “You’re being carried by a bird who won’t let you go? Cool, makes sense.”
One of the more unusual aspects of They Broke Up is the frequent use of text-message vignettes between scenes. Each character stands with a phone while their messages are projected onto screens for the audience to read. The characters also read their texts aloud to one another, creating moments that are as funny as they are relatable. Everyone knows someone like these characters, so it’s easy to recognize the personalities and get caught up in their conversations.
At the heart of the show, though, is the sudden breakup of Brett and Amy, a couple everyone knows and who are loved by (mostly) all of their friends. How does that kind of change affect a friend group? Who keeps which half of the couple in their lives, and how does everyone navigate the new dynamic? And for Brett and Amy, what does love really look like outside of a movie? Is it defined by feelings, physical intimacy, or shared history? These are surprisingly thoughtful questions tucked inside a comedy that rarely takes itself seriously.
Between the raw onions, alien water, cults, and countless other offbeat plot points, They Broke Up is a riotous way to welcome the New Year. The second act does begin to feel a little long, but there’s so much packed into the show that I can understand why they wanted to keep it all. The cast’s commitment and the sheer unpredictability of the story make for an evening that is never quite what you expect.
As a bonus, and a further indication that Avalanche Theatre is committed to the bit, there’s a personality quiz on the company’s website. Answer a few questions and find out which character you are. It turns out I’m Shy, although that’s only just ahead of a three-way tie between Amy, Spencer, and KC. After seeing the show, take the quiz and find out who you are!
They Broke Up runs for approximately 2 hours 50 minutes with one 15 minute intermission. It is suitable for ages 14 and up.
They Broke Up is playing at the Rivendell Theatre through 11/22/2026. Tickets can be purchased through the Avalanche Theatre website. The Rivendell Theatre is located at 5779 N Ridge Ave in Chicago, IL.