(Top) Junior theatre arts major Victor Rivera rehearses for opening night of

Appalachian State University's Department of Theatre and Dance will perform Tony Kushner's "The Illusion" next week, from Feb. 29 to March 4 at Valborg Theatre.

The show is adapted from Pierre Corneille's comedy "L'Illusion Cominque" and tells the story of a father, Pridamant (senior theatre arts major Sean Browne), looking for news about his son from the sorcerer Alcandre (junior theatre arts major Victor Rivera).

"This is a modern play based on a classical play," Gagnier said. "We're doing the Tony Kushner version, which is much different from Corneille's, which was written in 1639 as a comedy in protest of things such as the Catholic Church."

Set in 1600s France, "The Illusion" has a fairy-tale nature which requires elaborate costumes and scenery. Characters deal with everything from sword fights to romance and are, according to the actors who portray them, highly relatable.

"My character is not hard to relate to at all," said sophomore theater arts major Will Allen, who plays the flamboyant Matamore. "This part was meant for someone to act crazy and how I play him comes from the way I wish I could act all the time."

The Department of Theatre and Dance has known "The Illusion" would be its spring production for the past year. To prepare for the Feb. 29 opening, the full cast has rehearsed nightly since the beginning of January.

"We've been practicing five nights a week since the end of January and because of my character, I've also had additional fight calls," said sophomore theater arts major Luke White, who plays Adraste. "I've done some sword fight scenes in 'Pirates of Penzance,' but there was a certain form to it that was hard, like allowing the sword to move on its own."

The cast of the Appalachian production of "The Illusion" is made up entirely of students. The lead roles are played by senior theatre arts major Sean Browne and junior theatre arts major Victor Rivera. Professor of Theatre and Dance Derek Gagnier directs.

"We have well over 50 people working on the show once you factor in the actors, the box office staff and the publicity staff," Gagnier said. "This show is a showpiece."

To purchase tickets, visit theatre.appstate.edu or stop by the Valborg Theatre box office.

Story: MEGAN WRAPPE, Lifestyles Reporter
Photo: MADELYN RINDAL, Photographer