At David Kwong’s The Enigmatist, an experience that is part immersive theater, part magic show and even part stand-up, the show begins before you even enter the theater.
Theatergoers to The Enigmatist, which had its first run in Los Angeles and is now playing at Chicago Shakespeare Theater through June 30, are advised to arrive at least 30 minutes early to take part in the “puzzle garden.” There are four puzzles around the walls of the lobby that range in difficulty. By the time we were supposed to enter the theater, my companion and I were excitedly racing to solve the last one. The thrill of participating in the magic yourself is an essential part of Kwong’s interactive show.
Kwong is a magician, a cruciverbalist—crossword puzzle constructor—for The New York Times and served as head magic consultant on the 2013 film, Now You See Me. I am familiar with his work from Wired’s “Masterminds” series, where he shows you how to create a crossword and sprinkles puzzles throughout the video. This served as an apt preview for The Enigmatist, which includes everything from card tricks to scrabble to, of course, crossword puzzles.
The tricks grow increasingly impressive, culminating in a series of reveals that I won’t spoil, but certainly showcase Kwong’s strengths as a master of word puzzles. Kwong also weaves in a real-life (or is it real?) tale about code-breaking, madness and, as he calls it, “nerd love.” Part of any good magician’s trick is, he reminds us, storytelling.
Kwong repeats the phrase, “Knowledge is Power,” and the show often tests and celebrates the audience's knowledge, before revealing how little we actually know. The puzzle garden helps set the tone so that as you enter the theater, you are already guessing at hints that might be hidden in the set. Kwong often pokes fun at his nerdy interests, which makes for an engaging patter that lulls you into forgetting the twist that is inevitably coming.
While the tricks might be complex, what the audience gets from the experience is simple: the joy of immersing yourself in Kwong’s world and the satisfaction of finding that the answers we seek can be hidden in plain sight.
The Enigmatist continues through June 30 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 800 E. Grand Ave. Tickets are $59-105. Running time is approximately 95 minutes with no intermission. Get your tickets here or by phone at 312-595-5600.
For more information on this and other plays, see theatreinchicago.com.
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