One Twenty Five

Sleep No More

I’ve thought about this post so much. A post on Sleep No More? Where do I begin? Where does anyone begin?  Until recently I had never heard of it, and now after seeing it, it’s all I can think of.

It’s a new type of theater (at least to me), where the audience doesn’t just sit and watch a show, but rather is included in it.  It’s a a loose production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth which takes place in the McKitterick Hotel (an old warehouse converted for the show). Essentially the actors are moving through the motions of Macbeth (in a weird and twisted, silent way) and you get to follow who you want, when you want. You’ll instantly lose your friends as the hotel is rather dark, and essentially it becomes like one of those ‘choose your own story’ books. Every person will get a unique experience depending on who they choose to follow or where they decide to go.

The set of the hotel was spectacular. All the rooms were completely different - like scenes (from what I’d imagine) a crazy person dreams. I’d find myself standing in a room alone (the hotel is massive) and wonder who the hell thought up something so bizarre (some rooms were so odd I felt shivers being in them). You were aloud to snoop around all you wanted, go through doors, open books, eat candy (they had a candy room!), or even take shots from the bar. You could explore at your free will, which was a huge part of the awesomeness that is this show. (Click here to see nine photos of it by the New York Times)

Another very unique thing about the show is the audience wears white masks (see the sexiness above). At first I wasn’t a fan of this, but within seconds I saw why. You lose your inhibitions, you lose your politeness, and gain this great sense of anonymity. I took great advantage of no one knowing who I was, and forced myself to the front of all the sexy scenes (perhaps rudely, who knows…) - and oh there were many: Lady Macbeth taking a sexy bath, Macbeth taking a bloody, nak-id bath, and the orgy (which I saw twice. thankyouverymuch as they’re hard to find). If not for anything else, it’s worth going to see Sleep No More for the orgy(s), because good God, as if someone thought that up (note: they’re not actual orgies, but dreamt up ones. Really crazy. Impossible to explain. But what I imagine heroin is like).

However, my pushy, shoving, elbowing ways did backfire when I caught eyes with one of the actresses who selected me to head into a tiny room alone with her. She removed my mask and for over 5 minutes acted only for me. It took everything I had not to awkwardly laugh and then flee the scene, but I didn’t (go me!) and went along with what she told me to do (kneel and pray) in silence

Pretty much, as I think most people who see Sleep No More will say, you have to experience it yourself.  It’s a complete mind explosion and the three hours go by very fast as you’re running around chasing actors, looking for nudity (oh hush you, we’re all like that at heart), and exploring the elaborate, beautiful, scenes that will make their way into your dreams.