The Greek Cultural Center kicked off its 2010-2011 season with Charles Ludlam’s The Mystery of Irma Vep as translated by Lakis Lazopoulos and acted/directed by Evangelos Alexiou and Christos Alexandridis. Performances started in October and ended in December reaping enthusiastic reviews.

Part of the Ridiculous Theater Company’s repertoire, The Mystery of Irma Vep was first performed in 1984 in New York at Greenwich Village, and since 1991, it has been one of the most-performed plays of the American stage, and encumbered with all sorts of Obie Awards.

It was written for two male actors who play eight characters and go through 35 costumes changes while in constant motion. All the byproducts of horror are found in this parody. The play lampoons every conceivable British mass-market literary and theatrical convention, and films from the mystery and horror genre: Jane, the strict housekeeper of the estate; Igor, the peg-legged swineherd; Alba, the young Lady and second wife of the house; Irma, the deceased and first Lady of the house; the Egyptologist Lord Edgar with his mummy, the vampire in the library, the werewolf … all of this with a large amount of sound cues and sound effects, stage tricks and character changes in lightning speed, not only in performance but in appearance as well.

For this GCC production, the directorial and performing task of this multifaceted spectacle has been taken on by two outstanding talented directors and actors, and loyal collaborators with the GCC: Evangelos Alexiou and Christos Alexandridis. Their directorial inventiveness, along with their set-designing dexterity and costume designs fantasy is most explosive, and are supported by an amazing five people crew who have joined the game and dance that is IRMA VEP (anagram for “vampire”).

Christos Alexandridis (who was seen last year in Mommy Mother Mom at GCC, and is known for directing Baba-Rum and Madame Sousou Conquers Manhattan) saw the play in Greece. It was translated by Lakis Lazopoulos and performed to critical acclaim in the winter of 1999-2000 at the Ivi Theatre, with Akis Sakellariou and Antonis Kafetzopoulos. The play’s comedy, strangeness, and rhythm were irresistible to Christo.

Two years ago, he called Evangelos Alexiou (who was seen last year in Dangerous Game at GCC and directed Christo in Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians) to ask him to direct him in this play. After reading it, Evangelos fell in love with it: “What a bright and challenging comedy and what a gift for two actors,” Evangelos told Christo and that’s how the Irma Vep adventure started.