The Illusion

It’s hard to believe Corneille wrote this play in 1634. The pain of a father estranged for years from his son and the desire to seek some kind of forgiveness or closure for mistakes made in the past is as poignant now as it was then. It is a story best told through the power of live theater, and Corneille used his mastery of the form to fully exploit the magical uses of the stage, a story that seems to be almost custom-made for Cumston Hall. First performed in 1636, the play was “freely adapted” by Tony Kushner in 1988 and premiered at Hartford Stage in 1990. It is that version that you will see today. While remaining true to the original plot, Kushner’s sense of poetry, theatricality, and wit gives the show an immediacy that speaks directly to contemporary audiences. Enter with us now into the dark cave of the magician Alcandre, and share in Pridamant’s disturbing journey through a world of truth and illusion….