L’Illusion Comique

By

Pierre Corneille

Adapted & Directed by

Kevin Joyce

Dry with a Twist Theatrics and Inferno Entertainment are pleased to announce their production L’illusion Comique, directed by Kevin P. Joyce. This production has recently been inducted in the New Orleans Fringe Festival. L’illusion Comique will play a three night limited engagement at Under St. Mark’s (94 Saint Marks PL., New York, NY 10009) before journeying to the 5th Annual New Orleans Fringe Festival. Performances in New York begin Thursday, October 18 and continue through to Saturday, October 20. Opening Night is Thursday, October 18 (8 p.m.). The New Orleans Fringe Festival will be November 14th-18th (www.nofringe.org [3]). L'illusion Comique will run at the Clouet Gardens (710 Clouet St. New Orleans, LA 70117)

*New York Press nights: Thursday, October 18th, Friday, October 19th and Saturday October 20th.

See it before it travels down to New Orleans!

L'illusion Comique is a 1636 play in verse by the French playwright Pierre Corneille. While being popular in French speaking countries, it is rarely performed in English speaking ones.

In this fresh adapted translation, Corneille’s masquerade of buffoonery, betrayal, magic, masks and murder is set in the mysterious bayous of Louisiana. This production captures all the farcical intrigue of the original play, while adding a dash of Cajun spice to create a rollicking evening of theatre.

L’illusion Comique is the story of Pridamant, a wealthy southern gentleman who has been estranged from his son for ten years. Frustrated and desperate to reconnect with his lost son, Pridamant seeks the counsel of Alcandre, a voodoo priestess living in the bayou. Alcandre then conjures visions of Pridamant’s son, who now calls himself “Clindor”. What then ensues is a rollercoaster of intrigue, love and comedy involving a beautiful young woman named Isabelle, her jealous suitor Adraste, Lyse the sly maid, Matamore a clownish braggart, love triangles, murder, magic and dead bunnies all climaxing in an amazing twist which leaves us asking “what is illusion and what is reality?”. Where is the line between what is real and what is artifice? More information can be found at www.lillusioncomique.info [4].

The production features scenic designs by Drew Paramore, George Scholes Robson V, Matsy Stintson, Justin West, and Brian McManimon with fight choreography by Brian Walters. The production is produced by Dry With A Twist Theatrics in association with Inferno Entertainment and is adapted and directed by Kevin P. Joyce.

L’illusion Comique plays the following regular schedule through Thursday, October 18th:

 Thursdays at 8 p.m.

 Friday at 8 p.m.

 Saturday at 8 p.m.

Tickets for the October New York run are $18 General Admission $15 Student/Senior and will be on sale October 1st at www.lillusioncomique.info [4]. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the theater’s box office ½ hour prior to the performance.

*90 minutes*