12 June - 5 July 1997

THE ILLUSION

by Pierre Corneille

freely adapted by Tony Kushner

Pridamant of Avignon TREVOR BAXTER
The Amanuensis / Geronte STUART FOX
Alcandre RICHARD MOORE
Calisto / Clindor / Theogenes PETER DE JERSEY
Melibea / Isabelle / Hippolyta JULIA SAWALHA
Elicia / Lyse / Clarina HELEN SCHLESINGER
Pleribo / Adraste / Prince Florilame JASON HUGHES
Matamore IAN BARTHOLOMEW
Musician ROB BUCKLAND

Director MATTHEW LLOYD
Designer STEPHEN BRIMSON LEWIS
Lighting CHRIS DAVEY
Music PADDY CUNNEEN
Sound PAUL ARDITTI
Fight Director NICHOLAS HALL

'Magic, mystery, the interplay of reality and fantasy: Corneille's Illusion is a director's dream...Matthew Lloyd...is giving it a sumptuously theatrical revival...excellent work from Trevor Baxter as the anguished father and Richard Moore as the monkish magician. Lloyd's production is also ingeniously designed by Stephen Brimson Lewis: black cloths suspended above the stage part to reveal a baroque ceiling, a mound of earth turns into a picture-book garden, and even door-frames acquire a slippery quality.'
Michael Billington The Guardian

'This is a wonderful production: intelligent magic...Tony Kushner's free...adaptation is elegant, refined and flamboyant...'
Sunday Times

'The Exchange gets more vital by the day and The Illusion is a momentous curiosity.'
Paul Flynn City Life