The Apollinaire Theatre Company will premier its production of Anthony Neilson’s The Wonderful World of Dissocia on October 30 at the Chelsea Theatre Works building on 189 Winnisimmet Street. The play, which premiered at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2004, has won critical acclaim for blending song, surrealism, suspense and uproarious comedy into one thoroughly original and entertaining show.
Dissocia focuses on Lisa Jones, a young woman who is on a journey to retrieve one lost hour that has tipped the balance of her life. Her search takes her to the State of Dissocia, a bizarre fantasy world filled with joy and danger. Variety magazine describes the play as “a tremendously brave piece of stagecraft that carries both insight and heart.”
“It’s a really interesting and very innovative play,” said Director and Apollinaire co-founder Danielle Fauteux Jacques. “It’s an exciting script and we really wanted to perform it. It’s very different than things that audiences may have seen in the past. It’s the best of different worlds in that it’s really fun and also very compelling.”
Apollinaire’s production of Dissocia features a cast of eight actors and actresses, half of whom have appeared in plays with the company before, while the other half will be making their debuts when the play opens on October 30. Philana Mia, who will play the lead role of Lisa Jones, is appearing in her first play with Apollinaire, but has previously acted in plays with theatre groups such as Company One, the Longwood Players and the Hovey Players.
The cast also includes Apollinaire newcomers John Greiner-Ferris, who has been an actor in and around Boston for the past 12 years, Andrew Oberstein and Jeremy Benson. Mark Vashro, Line Echeverri, Andres Rey Solorzano and Lorna Nogueira have all appeared in past Apollinaire productions, such as Dark Play, the Thugs and last summer’s free bilingual theatre series at Admiral’s Hill.
Jacques said that she is impressed with the work that her cast and crew have done to prepare for this unusual and ambitious play.
“It’s a pretty complex play in terms of the technical elements,” she said. “We’ve been working on it for quite a while – the set and the costumes and the props and the makeup. It’s coming together nicely.”
The play, which is recommended for mature audiences, will run through November 29. Performances will be held on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm with Sunday matinees at 3:00 p.m. on November 22 and 29. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, and student rush tickets are available for $15 one hour before each performance. Tickets can be purchased by calling 617 887 2336 or online at Apollinairetheatre.com, and those who attend are invited to stay for a reception with the actors in the gallery at the Chelsea Theatre Works.
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