‘Incognito’ is innovative
Gamm Theatre production is memorably mind-bending
PAWTUCKET — “Incognito,” British playwright Nick Payne’s 2014 play about the brain – or better said, the mind – is making its New England debut in a memorable production at the Sandra Feinstein Gamm Theatre.
The play tackles meaty, existential issues faced by us humans, about how our experiences and memories, perhaps our DNA, affect our identities. It asks us to think about what makes us who we are, and whether there is something intrinsic that makes us “us,” or if that’s an illusion.
“Incognito” does this by telling three main stories, two of which are taken from real events. One involves a man, here named Henry Maison, for whom surgery to relieve seizures went horribly wrong and left him incapable of forming memories. He can’t remember from one minute to the next what has just happened, what he was just told, or whether he’s met someone before.
The second is about a pathologist, Thomas Harvey, who conducted the autopsy on Albert Einstein and stole the brain for his own studies, to see if he could find physical signs of Einstein’s genius.
The fictional story is about a neuropsychologist who is embarking on a relationship with another woman. While each story starts independently, they end up connecting in carefully plotted ways.
Four actors play all of the 21 characters who populate these stories and others that feed into the main threads – and therein lays one of the most fascinating, watchable aspects of the production. The cast – company members Tony Estrella, Casey Seymour Kim and Karen Carpenter, along with Michael Liebhauser making his Gamm debut – make each of their multiple characters distinct, not with costume changes but with incredibly specific acting: changes in demeanor, expression, accents and consistent quirks of personality.
They also infuse these characters with emotion. Estrella convincingly plays brain-stealing Thomas Harvey’s excitement turned into weird obsession. Kim gives us two believable sides of the neuropsychologist: the scientist and the smitten woman tentatively embarking on a lesbian affair. Liebhauser gives an amazing portrayal of Maison’s fleeting memory, while Carpenter’s work as Maison’s anguished but devoted fiancée is heartbreaking.
And that’s just one character for each; they’re just as good in the 17 supporting roles.
Director Tyler Dobrowsky works well with Payne’s script, giving audiences time to absorb significant information as well as time to re-connect with each character’s back story. He and set designer Jessica Hill have come up with a minimalist environment for this actors’ showcase, virtually a blank, white space with just a couple solid pieces that, along with Dan Scully’s lighting, anchor scenes.
As awesomely well acted as this pro- duction is, however, it oddly falls short of engrossing. The problem lies more with the play than with the production. It feels like Payne tried too hard to turn science and philosophy into storytelling. Perhaps he was too ambitious, trying to pack so many ideas into one uninterrupted production.
We have to give him credit for one thing: his play will leave you talking. This play about memory is one we won’t forget.
Performances of “Incognito” continue through Dec. 10 at The Gamm, 172 Exchange St. Tickets are $44, $52 and $60; call (401) 723-4266 or order online gammtheatre.org. at