Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The legendary immersive theatrical experience SLEEP NO MORE resumes performances at the McKittrick Hotel

• By drediman
• March 9, 2022
• No Comments

Earlier this week at the McKittrick Hotel, I returned to Punchrunk’s flagship production of Sleep No More, which triumphantly resumed performances last month following its pandemic hiatus. The legendary immersive theatrical experience – in my mind, one of New York theater’s great success stories thus far this century – opened at the expansive Chelsea venue back in 2011 and has since become a signature attraction for adventurous theatergoers seeking a sexier, more dangerous alternative to sitting limply in a Broadway theater. For those of you unfamiliar with the show, the piece – in equal parts theater, dance, and art installation – is a mostly wordless, movement-based adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth shot through the lens of Hitchcockian film noir.

The show’s success lies in its creators’ fundamental understanding of “The Scottish Play”, namely its pitch black view of human nature and its characters’ turbulent and disturbed inner lives. No matter that the characters’ motivations are murky at best, what’s crucial here is the unique opportunity for audiences to intimately and voyeuristically observe these characters at their most emotionally (and at times physically) exposed. The hugely ambitious production – which kickstarted the city’s craze for immersive theater – takes place over multiple floors, giving audiences ample opportunity for exploration and discovery. The play’s events are enacted throughout this sprawling world, and it’s up to you to choose (or not) which character(s) to follow at any given moment. Since the play is effectively performed over three continuous hourlong loops, you’ll have the chance to track multiple characters over the course of the evening, thereby allowing you to piece the plot together and gradually uncover the piece’s many mysteries. The current cast is a fearless and attractive bunch (as has always been the case with the show), and they throw themselves into the violent choreography with abandon. As a caveat, Sleep No More isn’t for every one – those looking to be hand-fed their entertainment will surely be frustrated; the show richly rewards those committed to being proactive and inquisitive within its “choose your own adventure” framework.

Even after having experienced Sleep No More multiple times – the piece benefits from and grows richer with each successive visit – I continue to be awed by the world’s massive scale, meticulous detail, and voluptuous design, particularly the gorgeously moody lighting (which artfully emphasizes shadow and hazy visibility) and richly cinematic scoring. If the brutality of it all gets too oppressive, there’s always the option of returning to the atmospheric Roaring Twenties decadence of Manderlay Bar (where you enter), where patrons can (re-)imbibe and enjoy some live cabaret performances. Returning to the show post-lockdown, it took me a while to get re-acquainted and comfortable with its aggressive crowds, especially in tight quarters. To keep everyone involved safe, the show’s one-on-one encounters have been re-conceived to avoid unnecessarily close contact. Additionally, the show’s iconic masks have been newly re-conceived to sleekly incorporate the safer N95 masks into its design.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

SLEEP NO MORE
Off-Broadway, Immersive Theater / Dance
McKittrick Hotel
Up to 3 hours (without an intermission)
Open run