Mindplay: Just don’t play with mine

The Huntington Theatre‘s Mindplay is at the Calderwood Pavilion is running from now through December 1st and if I had the time and budget I would go to every single show. It is not that I’m an obsessive superfan of Vinny DePonto, although I am now very much a fan (just the normal kind) it is more that I want to watch the show and study it, see where it goes night after night and try to get even a crumb of insight into what is really going on. Aside from the fact that the show does touch on memory loss, which may be difficult for some people depending on their relationship with loss of loved ones and how close they are to someone dealing with memory loss, I can’t think of anyone that the show would not appeal to. Mindplay is full of laughter, connection, and shocking displays of mind-bending phenomena as well as some nice little lessons on the brain and mind.

Theatre or Mindplay

The show begins before you even enter the theatre with a task in the lobby. This instantly had me with my guard up. We were asked to write something specific on a piece of paper and seal it in an envelope and drop it in a box for later in the show. Ever since I was little, the idea of audience participation terrified me. In just about everything in life, I prefer to observe from the sidelines. It is my comfort zone. I was already on the edge of my seat for fear of my envelope being chosen, but the show itself kept me on the edge of my seat, except when I fell back into it in awe at what I had just witnessed.

Mindplay is a play. It isn’t just a “ta da” look what I can do series of tricks on stage. It has a flow and a story line that had me in tears by the end, but the laughs definitely outweighed the tears and I just happen to be particularly teary these days. Vinny DePonto is a wonderful story teller. He spent the show bringing up various people to the stage and gently coaxing out information without anyone directly being asked to share their thoughts. It truly was mind-bending to watch the process, the artistry of the performance and how fragile and easy to manipulate our minds are.

What’s on your mind?

DePonto tells the room that no audience “plants” are used in the performance, which is why it is so tempting to watch the show over and over again. Each performance will have different audience members shifting the show’s direction. DePonto uses a combination of psychological tricks, visual art,
and immersive storytelling for the show. The set design is enticing as well.

Tickets

Tickets start at $65. Season ticket packages and FlexPasses are also now on sale:

• online at huntingtontheatre.org, by phone at 617-266-0800; or in person at the Huntington Theatre (264 Huntington Ave) or Calderwood Pavilion (527 Tremont St)

Select discounts apply: $10 off: season ticket holders, $40 “HYPE” tickets for patrons 40 years old and younger, $20 student and military tickets (valid ID required)