Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Nick Payne’s inquisitive and skillfully-written INCOGNITO is engrossing

• By drediman
• June 28, 2016
• No Comments

I recently had a chance to take in Nick Payne’s Incognito, which is currently being mounted by Manhattan Theatre Club at New York City Center. Better known in England, Mr. Payne is slowly proving himself here to be one of the more intellectually inquisitive contemporary playwrights around. His two previous outings in New York, If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet (via Roundabout) and Constellations (also courtesy of MTC), both showed a searching, philosophical mind at work, particularly with respect to questions of human existence as it relates to human behavior.

Incognito is no different. In his latest play, Mr. Payne deals with the very organ that defines us, the brain, and its capacity to process the world around us. Indeed, notions of memory, time, and illusion are explored rigorously, thankfully without sacrificing dramatic impact. The piece is comprised of three interlocking threads that orbit a true event – the “abduction” of Albert Einstein’s brain by a Princeton doctor after performing the autopsy on the corpse. If the eventful plot veers towards the melodramatic, I was nevertheless ultimately deeply moved by how accessibly Mr. Payne connects big existential questions with everyday experiences and interactions.

The production is precisely and efficiently directed by Doug Hughes and cleanly designed by his design team, which includes Scott Pask (set), Catherine Zuber (costumes), and Ben Stanton (lighting). The cast of four – Heather Lind, Geneva Carr, Charlie Cox and Morgan Spector – who skillfully play a multitude of characters, are exceptional. Overall, the men fare better, mostly because they’ve been given the juicier roles to play. Plays as smart and dramatically engrossing as this one don’t come around that frequently, so I encourage you to take this ride while you can.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

INCOGNITO
Off-Broadway, Play
Manhattan Theatre Club at New York City Center Stage I
1 hour, 30 minutes (without an intermission)
Through July 10