The IllusionFreely adapted by playwright Tony Kushner, The Illusion triumphs as a thoroughly modern rendering of Pierre Corneille's neoclassical French comedy, L'Illusion Comique. Already a favorite of theatres throughout the country, this adaptation offers readers the exquisite wordplay, beguiling comedy and fierce intelligence found in all of Kushner's work. The Illusion follows a contrite father, Pridamant, seeking news of his prodigal son from the sorcerer Alcandre. The magician conjures three episodes from the young man's life. Inexplicably, each scene finds the boy in a slightly different world: names change, allegiances shift and fairy-tale simplicity evolves into elegant tragedy. Pridamant watches, enthralled by the boy's struggles, but only as the strange tale reaches its conclusion does the father confront the ultimate - and unexpected - truth about his son. An enchanting argument for the power of theatrical imagination over reality, The Illusion weaves obsession and caprice, romance and murder, fact and fiction, into an enticing exploration of the greatest illusion of all - love. |
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Page 5
... servant : I keep his tongue in a jar . He serves me devotedly , all the better since I had his eardrums pierced . You are a troubled and unhappy man . What crimes have you committed ? Confess . Pause . PRIDAMANT : I destroyed my son ...
... servant : I keep his tongue in a jar . He serves me devotedly , all the better since I had his eardrums pierced . You are a troubled and unhappy man . What crimes have you committed ? Confess . Pause . PRIDAMANT : I destroyed my son ...
Page 24
... servant , Clindor . PRIDAMANT : Clindor ? This is my son , Calisto . ALCANDRE : You said his name wasn't Calisto . I wish you'd make up your mind . CLINDOR : Master , it amazes me , Titan whose countenance Is the world's great terror ...
... servant , Clindor . PRIDAMANT : Clindor ? This is my son , Calisto . ALCANDRE : You said his name wasn't Calisto . I wish you'd make up your mind . CLINDOR : Master , it amazes me , Titan whose countenance Is the world's great terror ...
Page 37
... servant . LYSE : She is . ADRASTE : That's more than you'd confess before . LYSE : I'm sorry for you , sir . I am . And , I admit , I had some hand in shaping her opinion of this man . ADRASTE : What is her opinion ? I want the truth ...
... servant . LYSE : She is . ADRASTE : That's more than you'd confess before . LYSE : I'm sorry for you , sir . I am . And , I admit , I had some hand in shaping her opinion of this man . ADRASTE : What is her opinion ? I want the truth ...
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Common terms and phrases
ADRASTE Amanuensis amuse Angels in America arbor art of love attic Avignon beautiful better blood breathe bush CALISTO cave child CLARINA CLINDOR cold dangerous dead death Delamont dream ears ELICIA epigram eyes father feel flee forever forgive garden GERONTE give gold hand hate hawk hear heart HIPPOLYTA hurt illusion ISABELLE keep killed kiss L'Illusion Comique Le Cid leave live look lover loves Melibea Lyse enter ma'am magician Alcandre maid Matamore enters mean moon murder never night orphan pain pardon Pause Perestroika PIERRE CORNEILLE pity play PLERIBO poor PRIDAMANT Prince Prince of Darkness Queen of Iceland rats rival servant silent son's soul speak starts to exit story strange sweet sword talk tears tell Theatre THEOGENES There's thing thought tongue tonight TONY KUSHNER toothache treason troll vision watch Weeping What's word