The Atlanta Shakespeare Company at The New American Shakespeare Tavern presents
Charles Ludlam's The Mystery of Irma Vep, directed by Heidi Cline
$12 General Admission Previews June 4 & 5
Runs June 6-July 12, 2009
Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc
Starring Jeff McKerley and Dolph Amick
The Mystery of Irma Vep is a hilarious two-actor quick-change marathon that ransacks literary, cinematic and pop culture as it satirizes everything from Hitchcock's "Rebecca" and classic horror film "The Mummy's Curse" to "Wuthering Heights" and (of course) Shakespeare.
Join The Cast and crew members for a Question and Answer session on Sunday June 14 after the show!
About the play (Excerpt from: http://www.aislesay.com/CT-IRMAVEP.html)
The play is subtitled "A Penny Dreadful" -- one of those illustrated thrillers of the Victorian era, half novel and half comic book, maudlin and melodramatic. It takes its cue from Daphne DuMaurier's creepy romance "Rebecca" -- the new wife oppressed by the lingering memory of the dead wife and by the contempt of the faithful housekeeper, with hints of murder and the supernatural. Then the play goes on to gather up a full complement of horror movie themes, including ancient curses, spooky omens, werewolves, vampires, and a mummy's tomb.
"Irma Vep" is a parody with a gimmick. All the roles, half of them women, are played by two male actors. This makes for a hilarious set of broad caricature-izations and a breathtaking stampede of near-instant costume changes.
The plot of "Irma Vep" is far too complex to describe, and really too silly to bother with. Suffice it to say that Mandacrest and its new mistress, Lady Enid, are haunted -- perhaps literally -- by the memory of Lord Edgar's first wife, Irma Vep; that there is something mysterious out there on the heath; that Nicodemus is hiding A Terrible Secret; and that Lord Edgar's interest in lycanthropy and Egyptology may hold the key to the mystery.
Performance days & times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, and Sundays at 6:30 PM.
Ticket Prices:
Seating areas: Main Floor Seats, Box Seats (on floor) and Balcony Seats
Discount Ticket Options: $12 tickets for Previews;. Student/Educator prices: $5 off per price level per night except in the Balcony on Thursdays and Sundays. Not valid on Saturday nights. $3 off for Military, Seniors, Groups of 10 or more, except in the Balcony on Thursdays and Sundays. Promotional discount offers are not valid closing weekend of a performance.
Purchase Tickets Online for most performances at www.shakespearetavern.com
Videos