In fact, it flows so rapidly that at the conclusion of the first act we are wondering what could possibly happen in the second act -– what could be left? Plenty, as it turns out. Carradine has most of the second act to himself, in terms of text, and he makes fair use of it in spite of the absurd blocking that has him stumbling over trash bins and around chairs on this already tiny set. In addition, there are a couple of gaffes that the actors have to deal with, in the form of plot twists that border on the truly absurd. (“Release me from this straitjacket.” “I can’t. The straps are too tight.”) Ken Russell’s direction, which leaves them at the mercy of the flaws in the script over and over again, doesn't help.
Mindgame as it stands is a fixer-upper. It’s got character and needs a loving family to make it a showpiece. That would be the preferred plot twist.
MINDGAME by Anthony Horowitz; directed by Ken Russell.
WITH: Keith Carradine (Dr. Farquhar), Lee Godart (Mark Styler) and Kathleen McNenny (Nurse Plimpton). Sets by Beowulf Boritt; lighting by Jason Lyons; costumes by Melissa Bruning; sound by Bernard Fox; fight director
J. David Brimmer; general manager, Darren Lee Cole Theatricals; makeup and hair design by J. Jared Janas and Rob Greene; production stage manager, Dee Wickert; production manager, Peter Dean. Presented by the SoHo Playhouse, Darren Lee Cole, producing director; Faith A. Mulvihill, executive director; and Monica Tidwell, Mr. Cole, Joseph Callari, Michael Butler, Robert R. Blume, Mary and Pierre Cossette, Victor Lownes and Rusty Holzer. At the SoHo Playhouse, 15 Van Dam Street, South Village; (212) 691-1555. Running time: 2 hours 20 minutes.
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