The Koan of Seymour at IRT Theater

It would be impossible to name a performer who more effectively blurred the lines between his real life and his life on stage than Seymour Fitzgerald Payne. While his fans loved adorable characters like The Purple Orange and The Bellowing Mime, Seymour was also involved in a series of public confrontations that left his public wondering if these incidents were rehearsed routines or spontaneous tantrums. But just as his career was beginning to soar, his life reportedly ended. Was his mysterious demise an unavoidable and calamitous tragedy? Or the latest, and most elaborate, of Seymour’s hoaxes?
In this two-act play, Seymour’s fellow comedians gather together to mourn his passing and celebrate his life. But as the evening progresses, truths are revealed, lies are invented and Seymour may - or may not - have one last surprise.