The Illusion in Chicago

Tony Kushner adapted Pierre Corneille's play, THE ILLUSION, before he burst forth with ANGELS IN AMERICA. The adaptation of this French play is revisited by The Court Theatre of Chicago in an entertaining production directed by Charles Newell. The aristocrat, Pridamant (John Reeger), has come to the cave abode of a magician, Alcandre (Chris Sulllivan), asking to be shown what has become of his estranged son. Alcandre agrees, as the ensemble appears on a crude stage, surrounded by rudimentary theatrical trappings to depict the evidence of the son's life. Thus, the story unfolds. There is a twisted joke of an ending that cannot be revealed here, but the pay off is worth the wait. The play is described as "freely adapted" by Tony Kushner, so I imagine the original 17th Century work is quite different and probably not nearly as crisp and funny to us today as Mr. Kushner's variation.