Review of Sleep No More

Imagine someone invented a performance experience where Macbeth were to be acted out in an abandoned hotel set in the 1920's and where the audience wanders the hotel and participation in the plot is encouraged/demanded. Now instead of imagining this, imagine that all you have to do is to go to New York and buy a ticket to Sleep No More, the Off Broadway import from England. Do you dare check in at such an establishments? My answer... Definitely!

This production is one of the most innovative experiences I have ever had. Audience members have up to three hours to explore the hotel and watch/engage the actors. And did I mention the running? Sleep No More is staged on five of the hotel's floors, so ifs you want to keep up with your favorite performers, be prepared to run up several flights of stairs.

I won't give away all the surprises (there are too many to name). Just get yourself to the McKittrick and see Sleep No More for yourself. Have an absinthe and be prepared for the time of your life.

Location:The McKittrick Hotel

We're married!

For those of you not on Facebook, here's our first post-wedding picture.

Waiting to get married

Well, we've been here over an hour. We paid our fees, and are now waiting for our number to be called. As I sit here, I realize that most of our time is anticipatory. Our lives are always moving from one milestone to another. the anticipation time is a good time. I need to remember this. This would make a great Advent illustration!

Location:New York City Clerk's Office

Evita!

I will post more later. I know, I know... I'm two shows behind... Just call it "building suspense"!

Location:Marquis

Review of End of the Rainbow

It's ironic that the little girl who personified the innocence of childhood as she followed her yellow brick road, had no such life. In reality, she was the product of the Hollywood merchandising machine. Aided by her own mother who kept forcing pills down her throat at the age of 14, the studios squeezed her for everything they could and spit her out at the end, a pill addicted alcoholic singer who scratched out a living until her eventual overdose at the age of 48. No matter how hard she tried, she never found her Kansas.

This production take you inside the life of Judy Garland a few short months before her death when she was doing her final performance in London. The story revolves around her relationship with soon-to-be husband #5 and her long-time friend and pianist who has joined her for her latest come back tour.

Both the music and the acting were outstanding in this production. If can get to New York and can get tickets, you won't be disappointed.

Location:The Belasco Theatre

Clybourne Park Review

How do we deal with the topic of race and class in this country? If we are any of the characters in this Pulitzer Prize winning production, the answer would have to be "Not very well." In fact, this painfully candid look into middle America across two generations tells us in no uncertain terms that we as a society have only addressed the trappings of racism. Underneath the thin membrane of modern day enlightenment still lies the bigotries and prejudices of our past.

I started to recount the main plot points in this drama, but like life's tapestry, if you pull out one thread without dealing with the larger piece, you end up with something less than the original. So rather than try to convey the full breadth of this play, suffice it to say that in my opinion, this is one of the most important plays of the season.

Are there flaws? Yes. The first act started a bit slow. There were also some scene choices that didn't make sense to me and didn't add anything of substance. But all-in-all, this is a play worth seeing. If you cannot get to New York to see it, then I would recommend reading the play. Its message is (unfortunately) timeless and well worth the effort.

Location:Chelsea Savoy Hotel

Clybourne Park

We're set to see the Pulitzer Prize winning Clybourne Park. This is our first show of the trip. Our seats couldn't be more perfect, thanks to my amazing soon-to-be-legal husband Chad. I'll post a review after the show. Right now, we are both pleasantly buzzed on superb Margaritas from Dos Caminos (50th and 3rd). If you want great Mexican in the city, this is the place to go.

Location:The Walter Kerr Theatre

Waiting to get our license

We are now waiting to get our official marriage license. This place is packed with people from every walk of life. They gave us a ticket as we came in and we have to watch for our number on one of the monitors shown in the picture. Are we getting married or ordering a side of brisket?

Location:Office of the City Clerk

Sitting at the airport

Chad and I are comfortably seated at gate 24 for our flight to New York. Thank God that there's a Starbucks in Concourse B. we really need it after all our last minute packing. We should be landing around 11:00 at LaGuardia. From there it will be a short taxi ride to our Chelsea hotel.

Once checked in, we will grab a quick lunch and then we'll be off to City Hall to pick up our marriage license. We'll then have the rest of the afternoon free until dinner. Tonight's show will be Clybourne Park, past Year's Pulitzer Prize winner in the drama category.

We'll be boarding the plane soon, so I will end this post for now. Look for many more posts, along with a few pictures as well. Our full photo album will be posted on Picasa when we return.

John and Chad


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Location:Columbus International Sirport