The Illinois State University School of Theatre and Dance presents The Illusion, opening March 30 at 7:30 p.m. Performances will be held in Westhoff Theatre and will run through April 7.
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner’s The Illusion is a tale of love, regret, and the illusions we hold dear. The rigid and withholding lawyer Pridamant is desperate to find the son he drove away years before. Having travelled in the dead of night to a mysterious cave to seek the help of a dark sorceress, Pridamant is presented with three magical visions of his son’s life since leaving home. Inspired by Pierre Corneille’s L’Illusion Comique, The Illusion sheds light on the frailty of human relationships and delight in the mysteries of love.
“Tony Kushner wrote The Illusion as a love letter to the theater, and it is in that spirit that my team of designers and I have approached the play,” Director Enrico Spada said. “The archetypes of lovers, rivals, stern fathers, and clowns will be instantly recognizable to audience members, but Kushner throws them together with surprising and hilarious results. His sense of humor and thoughtfulness really shine in this play, which is a magical, silly, and sometimes mind-boggling experience—just like being in love, really. We hope audiences enjoy the ride.”
The Illusion runs March 30, 31, and April 3–7 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee on March 31 at 2 p.m. Performances will take place in Westhoff Theatre.
For tickets or more information, contact the College of Fine Arts Box Office, which is located in the Illinois State University Center for the Performing Arts and is open 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday, at (309) 438-2535; or purchase tickets online by visiting ticketmaster.com. Tickets are $10 for students and seniors and $12 for adults. Free performance parking is available in the School Street Parking Deck in spots 250 and above, at 400 West Beaufort Street in Normal.
