Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – In MINDPLAY, Vinny DePonto finds a human angle to deploy his impressive mentalist trickery

• By drediman
• January 15, 2025
• No Comments

Earlier this week, Vinny DePonto’s immersive mentalist act Mindplay opened Off-Broadway at the Greenwich House Theater. In his latest solo show, DePonto — a relatable, down-to-earth, and imminently likeable talent and stage presence — has stayed the course, continuing to throw his hat into the crowded market of magicians and mentalists attempting to hone their craft and make a name for themselves on the boards of the city’s various theaters.

Indeed, it takes a lot to impress New York theatergoers these days, especially after having been previously exposed to materially similar acts from the likes of more recognizable names such as Penn & Teller and Derren Brown. But what sets Mindplay apart is not only the show’s heightened sense of theater, but more importantly DePonto’s insistence on bringing our collective humanity — this mentalist doesn’t shy away from exposing our frailties and vulnerabilities, including his own — to the fore. Even if the end result isn’t quite the beguiling marriage of storytelling and trickery that Derek DelGaudio’s popular hit In & of Itself was, Mindplay nevertheless captivates in its own way, using “magic” as a conduit to access the considerable depths of our psyches and as a way to excavate the wonders and sensitivities of the human mind.

Over the course of the evening, DePonto leans in on his boy-next-door charm and ample audience interaction to dictate the emotional palette of the evening, taking each audience on a bespoke journey of communal self-discovery. This keeps things fresh and interesting for DePonto, and I imagine there’s also a repeat watchability factor here for audiences to take advantage of. The production has been beautifully realized by director Andrew Neisler, who conjures an atmospheric but destabilized environment in which Mindplay unfolds and plays its tricks.

RECOMMENDED

MINDPLAY
Off-Broadway, Play
Greenwich House Theatre
1 hour, 30 minutes (without an intermission)
Through April 20