![]() ![]() The rooms are both intricate and diverse. ![]() While I was more than happy to stop and watch a scene being performed, I was happier still when roaming the rooms on my own, without anyone to distract me from the immense amount of detail and sensory information to absorb. The performers are universally charismatic and compelling however they aren't the only stars of the production. I didn’t hear any sound uttered, but the intent of various scenes came across clearly none the less, though various forms of physicality. Actors (although it might be more appropriate to call them dancers) roam the floors enacting scenes in various spots throughout the course of the evening, loosely following the path of Shakespeare’s Macbeth as they go. The production itself encompasses six floors and one hundred rooms which audience members are encourage to explore at their own pace. There are two distinct parts of Sleep No More: the physical production, and the personal experience, and both are apt reasons to attend. What this production doesn’t have becomes quickly irrelevant though, because what it does offer is an intricately designed, impeccably executed alternate reality for its audience to step into. I like fourth walls and assigned seating and personal space, and Sleep No More has none of these things. I like words and plots and structured scripts. From what I read ahead of time, I wasn’t sure it was going to be my thing phrases such as “performance art” and “non-verbal acting” made me quite nervous. I had done quite a bit of research on the production before biting the bullet and making the trek out to Chelsea to see it (for me, anything west of 10th Avenue is a trek). Part themepark, part Shakespeare, Sleep No More is completely immersive theater everyone should experience once.įor quite a few reasons, I almost missed the British theatre company Punchdrunk’s New York installment of Sleep No More. © 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc.*Check out the Theasy Guide to Sleep No More for helpful tips before you see the showīOTTOM LINE: Unlike any theatrical experience you've ever had. Make sure you look behind curtains and peek around dark corners.Īctually, there are exceptions to the leisurely rule: Many of the fleet-footed actors move very fast along the hallways and up and down the staircases - it’s worth trying to keep up with them.Īnd pay no attention to lessons learned in horror movies: If you see a disheveled man covered in gore head toward a dimly lit room while scary music plays in the background, by all means, follow him! What’s amazing about this immersive show is the combination of large scale (about 100 rooms on six floors) and minute details (each room is meticulously designed and furnished). It happened to me three times - and since all the audience members wear identical masks, these actors had no way of knowing who I was - and every time I felt my knees go weak with tension.įinally, take your time. Third, play along if an actor interacts with you in one way or another. It’s only during the final scene - where somehow the audience congregates, as if pulled by dark forces - that you realize just how many people had been spread out all over the McKittrick. It completely takes you out of the mood, and mood is everything to “Sleep No More.” So leave your safety blanket behind for a change, and let someone else dictate the agenda.īecause make no mistake, there’s a higher power at work in “Sleep No More”: You may think you’re roaming freely, but directors Felix Barrett and Maxine Doyle have made sure that you end up exactly where they want you to be. The last thing you want is for a text to break the spell, or to walk into someone hunched over a bright screen. Better to travel light - and to leave your phone behind. Second, use the coat check: It gets toasty in there, and bags are a hindrance. Being familiar with the plot heightens the experience. To make the most of your trip, and since “Sleep No More” can be overwhelming, here are a few tips based on my experience navigating the maze that is the McKittrick Hotel.įirst of all, brush up your Shakespeare: “Sleep No More” isn’t a traditional staging of “Macbeth,” but it does use a lot of its lines, characters and imagery. Word of mouth ensured that the show was close to sold out before the reviews even came out, and since they’ve been positive - including my own rave - tickets have now become even hotter commodities. ![]() Along with “The Book of Mormon” and “War Horse” (reviewed in tomorrow’s paper), “Sleep No More” is one of this spring’s must-see events. ![]()
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