By John Gibson. Venue 40 | Theatre at C ARTS | C venues |

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This adaptation of Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities offers compelling visual craft but sacrifices narrative depth. Its use of live micro-cameras, miniature sets, and intricate paper mechanics creates a hypnotic aesthetic experience as cities come to life. However, the consequence of having the same performers deliver the narration and present the miniatures, weakens the narrative.

Also, by opting out of a visual representation of the aging Kublai Khan, the show loses the opportunity to develop a human core. Without establishing that these fantastical places reflect memory, desire, and ultimately Venice, Calvino’s philosophical message is obscured—leaving an impressive display of technical stagecraft lacking a compelling narrative framework.