Illusion & Identity & "In & Of Itself"
March 20, 2018

The deconstruction of identity is typically the concern of academics and activists, not so much magicians. But Derek DelGaudio’s “In & Of Itself,” the intimate, oft-extended off-Broadway show next to Union Square uses literal illusions to explore identity as perhaps the greatest illusion. It’s a clever conceit, and it kinda works. Through a series of vignettes, anchored by the tale of a suicidal sailor known as the Roulettista (as in, Russian Roulette), and interspersed with tricks that involve cards, personalized letters and some ingenious audience participation, DelGaudio manages a fine balance between trust and skepticism, emotion and entertainment. He’s an unassumingly compelling guide, albeit one that leans a bit heavily on the pregnant pause. The success of the show is the way it quietly subverts its generally flashy genre, employing its wizardry in the service of subtle stories with an eye to epiphany. Its aim is not (only) the external gasp of wonderment, but the internal revelation as well.



Featured Posts
Recent Posts
June 15, 2018
April 11, 2018
April 9, 2018
April 9, 2018
March 28, 2018
March 26, 2018
March 23, 2018
March 20, 2018
February 28, 2016
September 18, 2015