Curtain call: Fantastic voyage

Ixion Theatre brings the outlandish tales of Louis de Rougemont to life

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Ixion Theatre’s latest production, “Shipwrecked! An Entertainment — the Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as Told by Himself)” is the polar opposite of its last play. Review “Topdog/Underdog” was gritty, intense and tragic, while “Shipwrecked!” is innocent, charming and cute. And while “Topdog” benefited from the bare and intimate space of the AA Creative Corridor, “Shipwrecked!” would benefit from a space that offers better light and sound effects.

The play is based on the real-life and imagined exploits of one Henri Grin. In the late 1800s, Grin created a fantastical (and mostly fictional) biography, under the pseudonym Louis de Rougemont, which he sold to London’s Wide World Magazine.

According to his fanciful account, de Rougemont grew up a sickly boy who reveled in the adventure stories his mother read to him. At the age of 16 he left home to see the world, and went to sea with a crew of pearl divers. The lone survivor of a terrible storm, he was shipwrecked on a small island near New Guinea. He was alone for three years until an Aboriginal woman, Yamba, and her father were also shipwrecked on the island.

Eventually, de Rougemont and his companions built a boat and returned to their tribe in Australia. The tribe worshipped him as a god. He married Yamba and lived with the tribe for 30 years. Homesickness eventually led him to trek across Australia to find his way back to London, where he sold his story. It was a huge hit, and de Rougemont was the toast of London — until several scientists and journalists challenged his stories.

The play is faithful to history, and is presented in a unique manner. As de Rougemont, Rick Dethlefsen delivers what is essentially a 90-minute monologue, busking his wares — his storytelling skills — on stage. On opening night, Dethlefsen sold the story almost flawlessly, throwing himself full-force into the narrative with maximum charisma. De Rougemont himself would have been impressed.

Christine Fisk and Steve Ledyard accompany Dethlefsen on his journey, taking on multiple roles and creating simple sound and visual effects. Fisk is solid as both de Rougemont’s mother and wife (what would Freud have said about that?), but her accents are inconsistent when playing characters such as the salty sea captain.

Ledyard is nothing short of adorable as Bruno, the ship’s dog and de Rougemont’s companion for many years. Ledyard takes on other characters, both goofy and serious, but his performance as Bruno is oddly touching.

While director SaDonna Croff and the cast have done their best to maximize the imaginative value of sparse props and set, the play could be a more immersive experience if it were presented in a black box space that allowed for better lighting and staging effects. Perhaps Ixion will be the next Peppermint Creek or Williamston Theatre and eventually find a suitable home that will allow it to reach its potential.

“Shipwrecked” is probably the most family-friendly production Ixion has ever produced. Children will easily be transported into the world of de Rougemont’s imagination and will certainly love Bruno the dog. It’s unfortunate that the production may be past most bedtimes, but with the show’s tight, 90-minute running time, maybe some kids will be allowed to stay up to see a man tell tales about riding a sea turtle.

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