Stage Sense: Live Theater/Experimental Theater

I just wanted to take a moment to share this link with you all.

http://fuckyeahgreatplays.tumblr.com/post/49775395174/i-know-some-of-you-geek-out-over

Mrs. Mayfield… is part play, part party, in which a group of former classmates (now all pushing thirty) reunite for a night of drinks and nostalgia. As people revert to their more childish sides, Lord of the Flies-style, what follows is a battle for affection, power, and ownership of memories. Also: nineties music!

Audience members will be fellow guests at the party, with the freedom to wander the space (Sleep No More-style), and have complete control over how interactive the experience is for them: a red nametag means, “Don’t talk to me,” while a green nametag indicates, “Yes, interact with me.”

Apparently, a theater group not too far from where I live is doing this fresh concept for an interactive theater piece!!

I've not yet had the honor to attend "Sleep No More" which is one of the more famous examples, but the gist is this: Audiences in attendance will be able to not only view, but actually participate in this evening of the arts. I have submitted to the email address listed in the link with the hope of attending.

 I've been involved in plenty of environmental theater in my time here in NYC and I think that anyone bold enough to tackle such concepts should be given respect just for the courage to undertake the activity; Skepticism comes in a variety of forms and I think many theatergoers are jaded to the idea; We've all been to a kitschy restaurant that was "interactive theater", but to do so demands a versatility to keep things interesting, and a fortitude to do so night after night. That being said in restaurants it's rarely executed well. But to incorporate audience members into a fully-realized production, and a brand new one at that, means a whole lot more. I've been working with a theater company for a couple years now and we've had a version of this concept (though very different in execution) that gets bandied about every six months or so, a long-simmering idea.

I applaud these gentlemen and ladies, and I eagerly await a chance to see what they've done.   If you're in the NYC area and want to find out more, you can click the link at the top of this post.


However since I haven't seen it yet, I can't end this post with a rating; Instead, let me open it up to comments!! What was the coolest/weirdest/most interesting piece of interactive theatre that you have ever been privy to?

+2 creative drama. Protection against sarcasm +1

When I first got the invite for tickets to "She Kills Monsters", I wasn't entirely sure what I was in for. Because seriously....how does one attempt to stage a play that tackles the topic of D&D?

Well I found my answer this evening at the Flea theatre, down in tribeca. I wouldn't say it was a "critical hit" but it certainly dealt a formidable blow.

The basic premise is that adult Angie never truly got to know her kid sister-and when Angie's entire family is killed in a crash, she is forced to acknowledge that she won't be able to ever again. But upon cleaning out the family's home, she comes across her younger sister's Dungeons & Dragons notebook- a collection of the adventures young Tilly was immersed in up until her death.

This then is our gateway to a surreal fantasy storytelling, full of adventure, profanity, genetalia jokes and surprisingly beneath it all a really great core message---that sometimes a kid needs an escape outlet like their imagination and there's nothing wrong in admitting who you are deep down; But first let's hit the humor.

Lore, Everlasting

The first musical Revival of the new season has arrived---and confidently put its foot down as a strong, vibrant contender for the Awards season.

Let’s jump to the scrutiny-
“it’s a revival! GODSPELL is classic. Why bother going if I've seen it before?” Well, imaginary reader o’mine, Stephen Schwartz has completely re-tooled the score and book. Updating it and giving it new life and new sounds.

And. It. Is. Wonderful.

A balance of ballad and blasting rock, to everything in between, we see a new look at an old favorite, achieving what American Idiot and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson fell short of truly encapsulating, in their attempts to make Broadway rock, while keeping its core concerns. The band is scattered around the audience seating, and the pianist planted center stage has as much fun (and occasionally sneaks in his own laughs) as the cast. This piece is very fluid in its humor and its music, and it is very clear that this cast has grown to work as-one, a small circle that brings 100+% every time they take the stage.

From the get-go, this In-the-round production of GODSPELL launches into a prologue entirely vocal-driven; from philosophy to cell phones, we are given a full spread of colors, in costumes that harken back to the original production without copying--- In fact, the choice to ‘clothe’ Jesus in not typical robes, Superstar garb, or even Original Godspell superman tee-shirt but instead opt for a baby-blue baseball jersey, we are firmly informed that this is a Messiah who’s ushering in his storytelling right here in the New Millenium. The age-appropriate cast, which I would mark no older than twenty-six years of age at most, brings an enthusiasm that would seem forced if a larger-name-filled or more-expected-broadway-aged cast were to have been in its place. The youths bring enough gravity to act Two and enough vibrancy to act One that you have a wonderful combination of story and spectacle.

The first act enables a truly terrific ensemble to showcase voice, humor, and parable while pummeling the audience with a rapid-fire string of Pop Culture references, all tasteful if silly at times. While you’re growing to enjoy this cast, the traditional lessons brought by Jesus (played with utter sincerity and engaging, wholehearted eagerness by Hunter Parrish in his powerful return to Broadway) are modernized just enough that the younger audiences can learn via metaphor while those more versed in the text can appreciate a wink and a nudge to the necessity of these nuggets of wisdom in our current society.

After starting act two with a roundhouse of fun (this reviewer was treated to an amazing rarer performance by amazing swing Julia Mattison stealing the first beltings and having a blast as you’re guided back in after intermission), we return to the meat and bones of the Passion of the Christ, uniquely portrayed and while simple, very raw and pointed in its execution. I am not one to enforce a religion on anyone, and I don’t aim to here; but , whether Christian in faith or not, this stage spectacle is a wonderful treat- and if you’re a fan of the original, and a music lover, then do yourself a favor and see what Stephen is refreshing- this graffiti’d god is a new coat of paint on a sure thing.

I won't divulge the pop culture bits as I'd rather you see the show for yourself and appreciate the surprises this cast offers. Suffice to say that the creative use of set, and reimagined musical interpretation paired alongside a recognizable show should sway new theatregoers to a positive future of broadway (if any other famous minds are willing to re-approach material like Schwartz has, here) while regulars will not be disappointed in the least by a far-from-droll revival that bounds onstage, gets your toe tapping, and lets your mind appreciate the intricacy.

One thing's for sure- this production of Godspell is here to play.

five out of five Proverbs.