Staff reports
Southeastern Oklahoma State University sophomore Dustin Curry (London, Ark.) has developed a new solo magic production, “Mister Gremory’s Cabinet of Curiosities,” a darkly comic look at the oddities of the world around us.
Curry plays Mister Gremory, a museum curator of sorts who presents artifacts from his Cabinet of Curiosities—“an encyclopedic collection of objects whose categorical boundaries have yet to be defined.” The artifacts are used to create illusions that tell true horror stories from history, such as the Lizzie Borden axe murder trial and the origin of voodoo.
“I like to think of the show as a roller coaster,” said Curry. “I want the audience to walk away feeling like they just had an experience. It’s not something you can sit back and watch. You have to live it. Hopefully you leave wanting to go for another turn.”
Curry, who is known by the stage name “Dustin the Dubious” to friends and fans, has been unleashing his unique brand of comedy magic on audiences in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska and Texas since 2007.
It was in January 2010, however, that Curry began developing a new show with a new attitude.
Prior to the show’s development, Curry had knowledge of some of the subjects in his new show. “I had developed a sideshow portion to my comedy magic show,” he said, “so it was easy to fit that kind of carnival atmosphere into ‘Cabinet of Curiosities.’” The rest of the show, however, was developed by Curry’s sole research into the era of the Victorian séances and spook shows that play a critical part in the production’s plot.
“Mister Gremory’s Cabinet of Curiosities” received a preview performance on the SOSU campus in May for theatre students and invited guests. The preview received a strong ovation and propelled the show toward the Kansas City Fringe Festival, where it received its world premiere.
The KC Fringe, one of many fringe festivals in the United States, is dedicated to presenting new and uncensored works by artists from across the country. Curry’s show received a “4.0 out of 5.0” rating on KCStage.com, the main review website for the Fringe Festival, as well as excellent word of mouth reviews.
Department Chair of Art, Communication and Theatre Dell McLain announced that “Mister Gremory’s Cabinet of Curiosities” would be “returning from the dead” in April to join the line-up of Theatre at Southeastern’s annual Dramapalooza Theatre Festival. Curry will be partnering with the department to make the show bigger and scarier.
“We’re looking for bigger illusions and better ways to make the show more visually appealing,” said Curry. “By April, we will have a monster of a show that will take people on the thrill ride of their life!”
For more information about Dustin Curry and “Mister Gremory’s Cabinet of Curiosities,” visit his website, www.dustinthedubious.com.
