Idiot Savant, Starring Willem Dafoe, Extends at the Public

The Public Theater’s world premiere production of Richard Foreman’s Idiot Savant, starring two-time Academy Award nominee Willem Dafoe, has extended for an extra week, through December 20. The avant-garde production, directed by the playwright and presented in association with his Ontological-Hysteric Theater, began performances on October 27 and had been scheduled to close on December 13.

In addition to Dafoe as the title character, the cast of Idiot Savant includes Alenka Kraigher as Marie, Elina Löwensohn as Olga, and Joel Israel, Eric Magnus, and Daniel Allen Nelson as Servants.

Described as a philosophical comedy in the tradition of Ionesco and Preston Sturges, Idiot Savant is a wild theatrical odyssey from the mind of Richard Foreman that includes existential and metaphysical acrobatics as well as a ridiculous game of inter-species golf with a Giant Duck.

Idiot Savant features scenic design by Peter Ksander and Richard Foreman, costume design by Gabriel Berry, lighting design by Heather Carson and sound design by Travis Just.