Eccentric Comedy: A Response To Dostoevsky's "The Idiot"

The Alley Theatre rings in the New Year with Robert Montgomery's Subject to Fits that will feature the Alley Company of Actors as they bring to life wild characterizations a comedy of outrageous proportions. Subject to Fits is a funny, outrageous, unorthodox, highly theatrical and unexpectedly moving comedy about the misadventures of the innocent Prince Myshkin.

As Myshkin - called "an idiot" by the crass because he suffers from epilepsy - struggles to fit into 19th century Russian society, he encounters a world of lunatic acquaintances and the black comedy inherent in Dostoevsky's writings. Subject to Fits is directed by Alley Theatre's Artistic Director Gregory Boyd. Subject to runs through Sunday, February 18. Recommended for mature audiences. Language, violence.

When Subject to Fits premiered at the New York Shakespeare Festival's Public Theatre in 1971 it received rave reviews and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Clive Barnes of the New York Times said Subject to Fits "is a mad, mad play that is a joy to encounter. It is a cerebral play of dazzling intellectuality, manic wit and calm literacy."

In response to Subject to Fits, Walter Kerr of the New York Times said, "In responding to "The Idiot" the author is not dramatizing "The Idiot". He is fantasizing what is left in his head of "The Idiot" sometime after he has put "The Idiot" down. That is something that can be done with novels or other memories"¦ What after all is "Anna Karenina" to any of us now? A horse show, a man with a scythe in a field, a dress ball, a flash of jealousy, a child, of course a train. How often without re-reading, do we put the shards together out of memory, elaborating, sometimes falsifying"¦ rebuilding our please along the way"¦ We daydream a series of signals"¦that have left us long after. The consumptive reaches into the epileptic's broad, smooth forehead and years to make a crack in it so that he can reach inside and hold the other's brain in his hand. This is rather like reaching into the author's skull and holding for a moment that his brain possesses of Dostoevsky's book."

Subject to Fits is sponsored by Shell Oil Company Foundation, Randall Jamail and Alley Theatre's 2006-2007 season sponsor Continental Airlines, the official airline of Alley Theatre.

The cast of Subject to Fits includes Alley Theatre Company Actors Jeffrey Bean as Myshkin; David Rainey as Paryfon; James Belcher as Lebedev; Elizabeth Bunch as Aglaya; John Tyson as Ganya; Charles Krohn as General Ivoglin; Chris Hutchison as Ippolit; and Elizabeth Heflin as Natasha. Also featured is Josie de Guzman as Madame Yepanchin (Alley's A Christmas Carol, Hapgood).

The design team for Subject to Fits includes scenic designer Takeshi Kata (Alley's Orson Shadow); costume designer Fabio Toblini (Alley's Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, Comedy of Errors); lighting designer Kevin Rigdon (Alley Associate Director for Design, Alley's Orson's Shadow, The Pillowman); Lyrics by Robert Montgomery and Music and Sound Design by John Gromada (Alley's A Christmas Carol, Witness for the Prosecution, Journey's End).

Playwright Robert Montgomery began writing an interpretation of Dostoevsky's "The Idiot" that saw its initial staging at the Yale Workshop in 1970. Subject to Fits, his first play, was subsequently produced by Joseph Papp for the Public Theatre's 1970-71 season, directed by A.J. Antoon. The play earned critical acclaim and garnered a Drama Desk Award and was nominated for the Pulitzer. In the fall of 1971, it was produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company (with Ben Kingsley as Ippolit). His other plays include Electra (St. Clements's Church Theatre); Re-Arrangments (La Mama E.T.C.); Genesis: Music and Miracles (Public Theatre) along with Ezekiel; Oedipus at the Holy Place; Lotta; and Green Pond. In addition to his dramatic work, he has authored eight young adult fiction novels. -- www.alleytheatre.org

Teaser

The Alley Theatre rings in the New Year with Robert Montgomery's Subject to Fits that will feature the Alley Company of Actors as they bring to life wild characterizations a comedy of outrageous proportions. Subject to Fits is a funny, outrageous, unorthodox, highly theatrical and unexpectedly moving comedy about the misadventures of the innocent Prince Myshkin.

Body Text

As Myshkin - called "an idiot" by the crass because he suffers from epilepsy - struggles to fit into 19th century Russian society, he encounters a world of lunatic acquaintances and the black comedy inherent in Dostoevsky's writings. Subject to Fits is directed by Alley Theatre's Artistic Director Gregory Boyd. Subject to runs through Sunday, February 18. Recommended for mature audiences. Language, violence.

When Subject to Fits premiered at the New York Shakespeare Festival's Public Theatre in 1971 it received rave reviews and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Clive Barnes of the New York Times said Subject to Fits "is a mad, mad play that is a joy to encounter. It is a cerebral play of dazzling intellectuality, manic wit and calm literacy."

In response to Subject to Fits, Walter Kerr of the New York Times said, "In responding to "The Idiot" the author is not dramatizing "The Idiot". He is fantasizing what is left in his head of "The Idiot" sometime after he has put "The Idiot" down. That is something that can be done with novels or other memories"¦ What after all is "Anna Karenina" to any of us now? A horse show, a man with a scythe in a field, a dress ball, a flash of jealousy, a child, of course a train. How often without re-reading, do we put the shards together out of memory, elaborating, sometimes falsifying"¦ rebuilding our please along the way"¦ We daydream a series of signals"¦that have left us long after. The consumptive reaches into the epileptic's broad, smooth forehead and years to make a crack in it so that he can reach inside and hold the other's brain in his hand. This is rather like reaching into the author's skull and holding for a moment that his brain possesses of Dostoevsky's book."

Subject to Fits is sponsored by Shell Oil Company Foundation, Randall Jamail and Alley Theatre's 2006-2007 season sponsor Continental Airlines, the official airline of Alley Theatre.

The cast of Subject to Fits includes Alley Theatre Company Actors Jeffrey Bean as Myshkin; David Rainey as Paryfon; James Belcher as Lebedev; Elizabeth Bunch as Aglaya; John Tyson as Ganya; Charles Krohn as General Ivoglin; Chris Hutchison as Ippolit; and Elizabeth Heflin as Natasha. Also featured is Josie de Guzman as Madame Yepanchin (Alley's A Christmas Carol, Hapgood).

The design team for Subject to Fits includes scenic designer Takeshi Kata (Alley's Orson Shadow); costume designer Fabio Toblini (Alley's Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, Comedy of Errors); lighting designer Kevin Rigdon (Alley Associate Director for Design, Alley's Orson's Shadow, The Pillowman); Lyrics by Robert Montgomery and Music and Sound Design by John Gromada (Alley's A Christmas Carol, Witness for the Prosecution, Journey's End).

Playwright Robert Montgomery began writing an interpretation of Dostoevsky's "The Idiot" that saw its initial staging at the Yale Workshop in 1970. Subject to Fits, his first play, was subsequently produced by Joseph Papp for the Public Theatre's 1970-71 season, directed by A.J. Antoon. The play earned critical acclaim and garnered a Drama Desk Award and was nominated for the Pulitzer. In the fall of 1971, it was produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company (with Ben Kingsley as Ippolit). His other plays include Electra (St. Clements's Church Theatre); Re-Arrangments (La Mama E.T.C.); Genesis: Music and Miracles (Public Theatre) along with Ezekiel; Oedipus at the Holy Place; Lotta; and Green Pond. In addition to his dramatic work, he has authored eight young adult fiction novels. -- www.alleytheatre.org