Chairs, The

Ion Theater's new space, World Stage, on 9th, puts them almost back-to-back with 10th Avenue Theater. A new downtown theater district? World Stage is a very welcoming facility complete with a roomy lobby and a modest-sized theater space with tiered seating providing great sight lines. Their opening offerings are definitely for the serious theater patron. A Tuesday-through- Sunday performance schedule alternates between two Samuel Beckett plays and one Ionesco play. There are a variety of curtain times, varying from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Eugene Ionesco's The Chairs is a classic "theater of the absurd" genre of the mid-20th century. An ancient couple (Glenn Paris and DeAnna Driscoll) live in a strange place with what appears to be many closets, a commercial glass-door entrance, and a couple of chairs. Their bizarre interactions are interrupted by the incessant ringing of their doorbell. They usher in and seat a constant stream of unseen visitors. Their two chairs quickly explode into well over 40, each occupied by an important person. Raygoza directs with great flair. Paris and Driscoll's every movement is highly stylized, at times more a caricature than character.

Finally, The Orator (Jonathan Sachs) enters dressed in formal black, including a cape. The orator is more mime than speaker, bringing us only a few ominous words. He writes, with finger, on a strange glass board that glows with his few scribblings. Director and cast have captured the delightful strangeness of Ionesco's writings. Driscoll attempting to get through the crowd of their visitors convinces us just how crowded the stage is. The old couple eventually jump to their new destiny. Well, Ionesco did state that this was a "tragic comedy."

Ion Theater's introduction to their new venue is quite an experience. It is nice to be challenged by works we do not often have the opportunity of seeing.