Vinny Deponto will mesmerize you with “Mindplay,” a show he created and performs. It asks, “What is on your mind?” The answers are quite interesting, revealing, and entertaining. Deponto’s one-man show, playing at the Greenwich House Theater (27 Barrow Street) and written by him and Josh Koenigsberg, is one of those productions in which each show is different because it is based on audience participation. You see, Deponto is a mentalist. He shares the idea of a memory palace with the audience. If you are curious about what that is, you have to see the show.
Deponto said he was inspired to learn about the mind and how we keep our memories by witnessing his beloved grandparents losing their memories, which was devastating for him. Throughout the 90 minutes of the play, he engages with the audience, and everyone in the room was happy to participate as he demonstrated his phenomenal ability to read people’s minds. I know it sounds like it was just part of the show, and maybe the people he interacted with were actors, but the people who participated were not actors. Interactions with the audience and illusions go hand-in-hand as you enjoy this production.
As I experienced the show and discovered where I go in my mind to find my own memory palace, I felt a lightness come into my heart.
Deponto’s performance is brilliant. This theatrical experience will leave you stunned, captivated, and moved. Deponto knows things about people that may feel jarring. The experience is enhanced by the direction of Andrew Neisler.
The technical aspects of “Mindplay” enhance the experience and include scenic design by Sibyl Wickersheimer, lighting design by Christopher Bowser, and sound design by Kathy Ruvuna.
Make plans to see this production — you might want to go back more than once, since it does change depending on who is in the audience.
For ticket information, visit mindplaynyc.com.