Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – A contemplative theatrical fusion: WATCH NIGHT embraces opera, poetry, and dance to create a timely tapestry

• By drediman
• November 15, 2023
• No Comments

Last night, I made my way to the brand new Perelman Performing Arts Center — also known simply as PAC NYC — to catch one of its inaugural commissions Watch Night. Located in Manhattan’s Financial District, the stylish and flexible venue is a welcome addition to New York’s already rich performing arts landscape, particular in Lower Manhattan, where cultural options are tougher to come by. Encompassing opera, dance, theater, and poetry, Watch Night is an ideal production to launch PAC NYC, foreshadowing its eclectic upcoming programming.

In short, Watch Night is a thoughtful meditation on racial injustice (vis-a-vis white supremacy) and gun violence — largely from the perspective of a Black Jewish journalist. The production defies definition, melting fluidly between performance genres. The result is a unique hybrid experience that at once embraces poetry and fully defined narrative. Underpinning the evening, however, is the gorgeously lyrical score by Tamar-kali (music) and Marc Bamuthi Joseph (libretto) — beautifully sung and soulfully conducted by music director Adam Rothenber — which strikes a contemplative chord that drew me into a pensive trance-like state. Thankfully, the performances are delivered at an urgent pitch, injecting the piece with a mesmerizing intensity that contrasts the seeming tranquility of the writing.

Watch Night has been given a surreal and ritualistic staging by director Bill T. Jones (who co-conceived the piece with Joseph and also provides the evocative choreography). Indeed, stepping into the auditorium feels like entering a sacred space that anticipates an important happening. Jones’s sparsely yet symbolically designed production gives the impression of a swirling fealver dream in which a tapestry of characters and points of view are allowed to commingle and play off of each other. It’s a powerful and immersive piece of stagecraft that manages to register as both timely and timeless.

RECOMMENDED

WATCH NIGHT
Dance / Theater / Opera
Perelman Performing Arts Center
2 hours (without an intermission)
Through November 18