The Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium

The IRC's mission is to present and preserve classic and lesser-known works from a collection of authors whose plays share certain basic traits. Writer Martin Esslin coined the term "Theater of the Absurd" to describe the fundamentals found in the playwriting of Eugene Ionesco, Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter, Jean Genet and Arthur Adamov, among others. We will present works that excite and engage audiences through highly-physicalized productions that we hope will impact audiences as Esslin proposed, providing "a new language, new ideas, new approaches, and a new, vitalized philosophy to transform the modes and feeling of the public at large..." The IRC seeks to provide coveted artistic opportunities to actors, directors and designers interested in exploring their craft through this uniquely theatrical form. We will strive to present productions of the highest quality that illustrate what Eugene Ionesco describes as works that "exteriorize the anxiety of characters through objects; make the stage setting speak; translate the action into visual terms, and extend the language of theater by playing with words and their meaning." We will present faithful interpretations of classic works, polished with a fresh perspective, and will shine a much-needed light on seldom-produced works from these authors with the hopes of intriguing and educating modern theater-going audiences and new generations of theater enthusiasts. Particular emphasis will be on presenting works that lend themselves to physical comedy, clowning, vaudeville and music hall elements.