An immersive 1930s adaptation of Macbeth in New York City

¶ … popular theatrical experience in New York City. It is written objectively and seeks to identify both the areas of success and areas of improvement that this production, and its holistic experience, entails for the viewer.

Event Description

This event involved the author going to an a 1930's style hotel in New York City. Various aspects of the theatrical experience which is loosely based on Macbeth involved audiences getting acclimated to different perspectives and rooms in the residence in which the story takes place. In this regard the experience was truly interactive.

Evaluation

The most interesting thing about the event was the modernization of Macbeth. The fact that theater goers could actually follow various characters in this timeless tale in different rooms helped to add to this story, and emphasize some of the aspects of the play that are less emphasized in the original.

b.i. On the one hand, there was sufficient guidance on the part of the personnel working this event. They ensured that all present were given masks, and were also present to ensure that these masks were not removed. This sort of attention added to the uniqueness of this event and its interactivity.

b.ii The theater environment itself however, was somewhat uncomfortable. Due to all of the activity on the part of the viewer, -- which mostly entailed following performers around the selected residence, which involved mounting and descending stairs and dashing from room to room -- the masks made doing so too hot.

b.v. For the most part, the four critical facets of theater management -- planning, organizing, leading and controlling -- were handled extremely professionally. Management was clear about the expectations of the audience regarding their involvement in the production. It was also organized effectively, although in a distinctly unconventional sense in which audience members were allowed to look through the various props on stage and pursue the activities of any characters they wanted to follow. As far as the leading and controlling of the show, it would be erroneous to state that they were ineffective. However, they certainly lent themselves to a degree of autonomy in which the audience got as much out of the show as they were willing to put in -- and nothing more.

c. Overall, the goal of the show was achieved and it seemed successful. Many of the audience members followed the parameters of keeping silent and watching the various cast members in different rooms. Several seemed to enjoy perusing through the objects in the various rooms and learning more about the characters and their motives in this manner. In truth, the costumes that the audience was required to wear -- the aforementioned masks -- helped to give the work a dark, mysterious feel. This sort of sentiment was apparent in the original version of Macbeth, and was a critical part of the success of the drama in this modern version.

Conclusion

Sleep No More was an effective production overall. It was able to incorporate the mainstays of classic theatrical management while simultaneously updating them and applying them to a post-modern environment. The liberty the audience had to engage with the actors and the setting largely helped to achieve this purpose. One could improve the work by accentuating more dialogue and lessening the presence of some of the music.