Off-Broadway's Irish Rep, in association with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, opened the buoyantly theatrical stage version of Jules Verne's classic July 20 after previews from July 11. It was originally to run to Sept. 7.
In this "high-spirited, fast-moving and highly imaginative show" by Mark Brown, from the novel by Verne, five performers play 39 international characters.
The cast includes Daniel Freedom Stewart as Phileas Fogg, Evan Zes as Passepartout/John Sullivan, John Keating as Detective Fix/numerous characters, Lauren Elise McCord as Aouda/numerous characters, Jay Russell as a variety of characters and Mark Parenti as Musician/Foley Artist.
Irish Repertory Theatre is located at 132 West 22nd Street in New York City.
* This marks a first-time collaboration between Irish Rep and Playhouse in the Park, where 80 Days was seen earlier. The script premiered in 2001 at Utah Shakespearean Festival.
According to Irish Rep, "In England in 1872, Phileas Fogg is the most exact of men. Well-traveled, very wealthy and with no friends or relatives of which to speak, he keeps his days on the most precise of schedules and spends his evenings at the local Reform Club. After a newspaper asserts that traveling around the world in 80 days is a legitimate possibility, Fogg…enters into a wager…betting £20,000 that he could complete the journey in the allotted time. The race is on, and Fogg begins a journey that will include twists, turns and travel unlike you've ever seen — from train to boat, sled to elephant. A snooping detective who believes Fogg might be the thief, a possible human sacrifice, a runaway train and even the will of Mother Nature all conspire against Fogg's adventure of a lifetime, threatening not only his journey but also the heart of the woman he loves."
Michael Evan Haney, associate artistic director of Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, directs. The production team includes Joseph P. Tilford (set designer), David Kay Mickelsen (costume designer), Betsy Adams (lighting designer), David Andrew Levy (sound designer) and Mark Parenti (original music). The stage manager is Christine Lemme.
Playwright Brown received his acting training at the American Conservatory Theatre and has appeared in theatres across the country including the South Coast Repertory, the McCarter Theatre and the Utah Shakespearean Festival.
According to production notes, Verne himself created an elaborate stage depiction at the Port Saint-Martin Theatre, Paris, in 1874. The spectacle included live elephants and played for 54 years, closing in 1928.
Prices range from $60-$55. The show will run Tuesday through Saturday at 8 PM with matinees Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 3 PM.
For tickets and information call the Irish Repertory Theatre box office at (212) 727-2737 or visit the website www.irishrep.org.
