The Mystery of Irma Vep
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SHOW INFORMATION
CURRENTLY CLOSED
Opened Jun 6, 2008
Closed Jul 13, 2008
Opened Jun 6, 2008
Closed Jul 13, 2008
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WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
Arena favorites Brad Oscar and J. Fred Shiffman return in Charles Ludlam's riotously absurd gothic thriller, The Mystery of Irma Vep. Gleefully ransacking literary, cinematic and pop culture, this hilarious Obie Award-winner spoofs everything from Rebecca to Victoria Melodrama to The Mummy's Curse. On the proverbial "dark and stormy night," lady Enid (newly married to Egyptologist Lord Edgar) arrives at an estate under the spell of his deceased first wife and haunted by something that's prowling the moors. She quickly encounters a werewolf, a vampire, an Egyptian princess and the mystery of Irma Vep, whose portrait hangs over the fireplace. With dozens of lightning-fast transformations, Brad and Fred portray all the characters - men, women, and monsters - in a gender bending tour-de-farce.
WHAT ARE CRITICS SAYING?
What are other members saying?
VEP
Possibly you were to busy taking notes, and therefore didnt see the many sight gags and subtle neuances of the characters. Dont tell me an actor was too broad. The Director directed that way, and if you are any kind of critic, you would know that. If you dont like the play, at least give compliments where due: Mr Oscar, Mr Shiffman and Ms Teichman have crafted a fine piece. I guess it is easier to write a neg review than a poz
Reviewed by Kurt102
on Tuesday, Jun 24th, 2008
irma Vep
in addition, many of the negative comments about the show seem to follow the Wash Post review. The POST continues to pander to Signature theatre,Good or Bad, i.e. Glory Days panned in NYC, Praised in DC, then capitulated in accordance with New York. BE HONEST to your readers. "Will they enjoy?" is the most important question you could ask prior to writing a review. We dont want to know how well yhou think you can write!
Having said that "VEP" is FUN from start to finish.
Reviewed by Kurt102
on Tuesday, Jun 24th, 2008
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Charles Ludlam's crowd-pleasing send-up The Mystery of Irma Vep is a delightful romp in which two male actors play all eight characters, male and female, thanks to lightning-speed costume changes from start to finish. But the real mystery of Rebecca Bayla Taichman's production at Arena Stage is how two seasoned farceurs, Brad Oscar and J. Fred Shiffman, can enjoyably camp it up -- and change from frock to frock all evening -- but still fall short of the play's potential for hilarity.
Ludlam's comic penny-dreadful spoof of Gothic melodrama takes place mostly in a shadowy old manor house where the Lord's new bride feels as if the eyes in the portrait over the fireplace are following her aro[...]