Quick Hit Theater Review: The Illusion

The Illusion

By Tony Kushner, adaped from Pierre Corneille's "L'Illusion Comique"

Directed by Michael Meyer

Summary:

Pridamant of Avignon (David Margulies) would like to reconnect with his estranged son Calisto/Clindor/Theogenes (Finn Wittrock), so he enlists the help of a sort-of sorceress, Alcandre (an utterly delightful Lois Smith) and her hapless piano-playing slave, Amanuensis (Henry Stram) . With her magic, Primadant is able to view his son's life -- or several versions of his life -- which involve falling in love with Melibea/Isabelle/Hippolyta (Amanda Quaid), whose father wants her to marry someone else like the cruel, but socially lofty Pleribo/Adraste/Prince Florilame (Sean Dugan) or the older living caricature of a fool Matamore (Peter Bartless). Reluctantly aiding her mistress in her quest for true love is the heroine's maid, Elicia/Lyse/Clarina (Merritt Weaver) who is in love with Pridamant's son herself.

Highlights:

The design team (Christine Jones, set; Kevin Adams, lighting; Bray Poor, sound; Nilco Muhly, music) creates an ethereal atmosphere. We are whisked from Alcandre's cave, with it's dripping water, to a garden created with nothing more than a plastic plant and some cable lines. The full visual settings created by minimal lines and props are enhanced by Designer Susan Hilferty's 17th-century costumes. Don't take your eyes off of Smith as she and Margulies linger just on the edges of the action. Her reactions and facial expressions communicate reams through the silence and distance. There are some hard-hitting questions underneath the fairytale-like setting, like "What does love mean and what does it look like?" and "How do you measure the importance of a father?" and how are those two questions related?

Lowlights:

A little confusing at first.

Information:

The Illusion is the third Kushner play this season at the Off-Broadway Signature Theatre Company, 555 West 42nd St., NYC. It runs through July 17. For tickets visit http://www.signaturetheatre.org/.

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God's name taken in vain

Language

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