The 7th Voyage of Egon Tichy [redux]

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Theatre and sci-fi have a complicated history (Return to the Forbidden Planet, anyone?). The 7th Voyage of Egon Tichy [redux], starring Joshua William Gelb playing various versions of himself, is a short (55 minutes) strange trip that is sure to delight audiences.

The plot is fairly simple – Egon Tichy (great name) is trapped in outer space. He encounters a time vortex that creates duplicates of himself – several duplicates, including a baby and an old man.

The fun is in the technological achievement of the piece, which is impressive. Gelb performs center stage while his image is broadcast to screens on either side of the theatre. What happens on those screens is extraordinary – Gelb, as Tichy, interacts with himself flawlessly in perfectly choreographed scenes.

You kind of feel like you’re on a ship roaming the space-ways. The screens make things feel cramped, in a good way, and it’s surprisingly believable when a wrench floats in outer space.

The feeling of solitude is evident in New York Theatre Workshop’s Fourth Street Theatre, a smaller auxiliary space. Even though you are in a room full of people (the show is mostly sold out, although you should try and get tickets) you will feel as lonely and isolated as Egon, despite the presence of duplicates. Talking to yourself is never as good as talking to other people.

It is important to note that this was originally a piece performed online during quarantine. Nothing has been lost in translation in moving the show to live action.

The director Jonathan Levin does an amazing job moving things through the limited space, guiding Gelb through gyrations that dazzle your eye. Playwright Josh Luxenberg has adapted Stanislaw Lem’s short story, and while I haven’t read the original, the result is certainly smooth. Much credit is due video designer Jesse Garrison; the videos are a huge part of what makes the production worth seeing. Marika Kent does an excellent job with the lighting, and M. Florian Staab handles original music (pitch perfect) and sound design.

Take a voyage with Egon Tichy – you won’t regret it.

The 7th Voyage of Egon Tichy [redux] (through January 26, 2024)

New York Theatre Workshop and Lucille Lortel Theatre presents a Sinking Ship and Theater in Quarantine Production in Partnership with 2025 Under The Radar Festival

New York Theatre Workshop’s Fourth Street Theatre, 83 East 4th Street, in Manhattan

For tickets, visit http://www.nytw.org/7th-voyage-tickets/

Running time: 55 minutes without an intermission