MIND FOR GOLD
Vinny DePonto, the Brooklyn-based mentalist, is undeniably a master showman—and a strikingly handsome one at that (I’ll draw a comparison to Jake Gyllenhaal). Like all magicians, the heart of his one-man show lies not in the tricks themselves (though they are breathtaking) but in his thought-provoking interaction with the audience. With Mindplay, which opened last Monday at the intimate Off-Broadway Greenwich House Theater, DePonto keeps patrons on their toes, blending seamless illusions with insights into the workings of the human mind. His perceptive presence feels so immediate and personal that it’s almost as if he’s stepping into your private thoughts—if only you dare let him.
Audience participation is a key element of the show, creating an electric mix of excitement and nerves which comes with “Please don’t pick me!” If you’re hoping to avoid being called on, you might skip filling out the envelope provided at the start or steer clear of the simple instructions handed out before the show. But you should know that those participants who caught a red balloon, answered an onstage phone, or were selected via a glass container of envelopes brought an affable, unpretentious warmth and authenticity to the performance, their initial anxiety quickly replaced by awe—even when DePonto revealed eerily accurate details about their lives. In one particularly memorable moment, a story about a woman’s red high heel grew so personal that DePonto whispered the seemingly embarrassing conclusion privately to her, and her visible agreement confirmed his accuracy.
DePonto insists there are no plants in the audience, and after witnessing him delve into the minds of five or six random patrons with uncanny precision, you’ll believe him. While he openly admits that his feats are psychological tricks, the question of whether they’re “real” fades in the face of the more intriguing mystery: How does he do it?
Under the fantastical direction of Andrew Neisler, Mindplay becomes a theatrical spectacle dressed to the nines, elevated far beyond a typical magic show. Sibyl Wickersheimer’s ingenious set design—a striking embankment of climbable file cabinets bursting with paper, telephones, cassette tapes, and memories—adds a surreal, dreamlike quality to the performance. The immersive experience is further enhanced by Christopher Bowser’s spectral lighting and a richly textured soundscape from designer Kathy Ruvuna and composer Alex Harris.
At its core, Mindplay is exactly that: a play. Written by DePonto and Josh Koenigsberg, the production uses mind tricks to explore meaningful, touching themes about how our brains deceive and surprise us. While the show refrains from diving deeply into the darker recesses of the collective psyche—an opportunity perhaps missed in today’s era of misinformation—it still offers profound insights wrapped in the magic of theater.
Ultimately, Mindplay is a thought-provoking, enchanting experience that will leave you marveling at the tricks your own mind can play.
photos by Chris Ruggerio and Jeff Lorch
Mindplay
Greenwich House Theater
ends on April 20, 2025
Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri at 7; Sat at 5 & 9; Sun at 3 & 7
for tickets ($58-$139), visit MindplayNYC
