A wild and certainly far-from-normal world has been created on campus in UW-Madison's Hemsley Theatre. This world is one of vampires, werewolves and deception, all fantastically encompassed by an overriding element of hilarity. Home to the innovative and beloved play by Charles Ludlam, "The Mystery of Irma Vep," this world has entertained audiences in Madison for the past week and will continue through this weekend.
"The Mystery of Irma Vep” follows true Charles Ludlam style. The writer was one-of-a-kind, a truly revolutionary and beyond-creative star in the theatrical world. Famous for his tendency to engage audience members, Ludlam elaborated on the burlesque style, continuing a tradition of "repertory acting." Speaking of his own unique theatre style, Ludlam once said, "…I don't have an axe to grind even though I do have a mission. That mission is to have a theatre that can offer possibilities that aren't being explored elsewhere. If you ask me why I've lasted so long, maybe that's the answer. I'm here because I keep coming up with possibilities." "Irma Vep" is full of those possibilities, explaining the success of a play more than 20 years old.
Centered on the twisted love triangle of Lord Edgar Hillcrest, his new bride Lady Enid and Lord Hillcrest's presumed-dead first wife Irma, the production takes unexpected and oftentimes unbelievable turns as audiences are taken from the stuffy drawing room of Mandercrest Manor to Egypt and back again. Thanks to its quick pace, "Irma Vep" forces actors to rely on quick thinking and improvisational skills to account for minor costume slip-ups, unexpected audience reactions and the twisted plot.
The first theatrical production in 1984 — three years before the playwright's death — delighted audiences, capitalizing on its focus on the 19th-century fiction genre known as "penny dreadful." This style of theatre incorporates various aspects of vaudeville, satire and melodrama, weaving them together to create crazy and engaging works of art.
"The Mystery of Irma Vep" is most notable for its unique cast. With seven characters (mostly women) being played by two actors (both men), audience members are in for a wild ride of costume changes, character alterations and unscripted humor.
UW's University Theatre boasts an intelligent and hilarious adaptation of the Ludlam classic. Screen Actors Guild member Jim Stauffer (Lord Edgar Hillcrest, Jane Twisden, Intruder) and UW student Ryan Winkles (Lady Enid, Nicodemus Underwood, Alcazar, Pev Amri) both lend their expertise to the stage, mastering the production's many costume and character changes with ease. Tuesday's performance perfectly exemplified each actor's talent. Minor costume malfunctions, apt to throw less seasoned thespians, were handled with grace and humor, supplementing the play much more than hurting it. Directed by Patricia Boyette, head of the Acting/Directing Program at UW, Ludlam's vision is expertly executed by Hemsley.
The intelligent wit of "The Mystery of Irma Vep," along with one-liners seemingly written for crude college students is what makes the play so enjoyable. With lines alluding to the production's cross-dressing characters ("Well, any man who dresses up as a woman can't be all that bad."), and the clever incorporation of classic works like "Rebecca" and "Wuthering Heights," "Irma Vep" delivers abundant laughs. The craziness of the material, the intelligence of the humor, and the talent of the cast and crew culminate to expertly recreate a theatrical work Ludlam himself once described as "a surrealist-mystery-melodrama-adventure story." It is an entertaining adventure — masterfully executed by our own theatre group.
Ludlam spoke of possibilities. "The Mystery of Irma Vep" is full of those possibilities, stretching audience members while keeping them laughing out loud throughout the performance. With its use of a cabaret-style venue, "Irma Vep" is presented in a small, intimate setting that maximizes audience inclusion and amplifies the production's intelligent wit. The UW Theatre offers a wonderful representation of the world Charles Ludlam created, making its current running of "Irma Vep" a theatrical endeavor not to be missed.
"The Mystery of Irma Vep" is playing at UW's Hemsley Theatre through Sept. 18. Tickets are $12 for UW Students, $16 for General Public.
