By Alan Jozwiak
Mindgame is now appearing at Falcon Theatre. This “scary story” is written by Anthony Horowitz and is far more than specters, spooks, and spirits of mischief. This scary story pulls out the very rug of reality from under you. This is a play where your assumptions are quickly disproven and what you take for reality is up for grabs.
In Mindgame, best-selling true crime author Mark Styler (Mike Fielder) goes to the Fairfields experimental hospital for the criminally insane. His plan is to interview the serial killer Easterman, the subject of Styler’s next book. Styler runs into problems interviewing Easterman because of the objections of Dr. Alex Farquhar (Rick Grant), the head of Fairfields and his assistant Nurse Paisley (Rachel Mock).
What follows is a fascinating tug-of-war between sanity and insanity, where the middle ground between the two is the struggle for figuring out what is real and what is illusion. I can’t say any more about the plot for fear of spoilers.
Mindgame’s Direction
Director Chad Brinkman assembles a strong cast for this production and encourages the actors to showcase their strengths over the course of the play. Brinkman allows his actors to find the humanity of their characters throughout this topsy-turvy world. That directorial move grounds the actors’ performances. It prevents the play from ending up being a series of sideshow attractions. We get to see the full range of emotions from these characters.
The Performers
Mike Fielder gives a strong performance as the true crime author who gets plunged into a world of madness. His character undergoes a dramatic transformation by play’s end and Fielder is able to keep the audience sympathies with him throughout that transformation. One point where his ability to do it comes when he is forced to wear a particularly humiliating article of clothing. But I will not spoil it for you with more information.
Fielder’s nemesis throughout the play is Rick Grant, who plays Dr. Alex Farquhar. Grant has that rare gift of playing his role with total sincerity while also finding the humor. The playwright plants lots of laugh lines in Dr. Farquhar’s script. Grant’s comedic timing shines through, as he finds them all, easing the tensions of the action.
Rounding out the cast is Rachel Mock as Nurse Paisley. Mock adds the necessary gravitas and sense of urgency to the conflict between Styler and Dr. Farquhar. Suffice to say, Mock delivers a role that is both emotionally intense and physically demanding.
Overall
In short, Mindgame is a play for adventuresome theatre-goers who want to be scared as they think about what is real. This is an incredibly intense show filled with thrills, chills, and graphic depictions of violence. It is not for the faint of heart.
One final warning: Since so much of the show depends on surprising the audience, do not share any of the secrets. If I can creatively misquote from the film Fight Club: The first rule of Mindgame is not to talk about Mindgame. When they see the show, your friends will thank you for not spoiling things.
Tickets to Falcon Theatre’s Mindgame
Mindgame runs November 1-16, with performances Thursday through Saturday evenings at 8 pm. The Falcon Theatre is on Monmouth Street in Newport. Running time is about 1 hour and 45 minutes, including intermission. Click here for ticket information.
