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Threaded Order Chronological Order
| WSS at Signature - spoiler please | |
| Posted by: | Kaoru 04:24 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| I read the regional review of WSS. "Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia, has a reputation for putting its own spin on classic musicals, but the immersive production of West Side Story now in the MAX Theatre is different: a brilliant reinterpretation that takes the original components and uses them in unexpected ways. Director Matthew Gardiner and choreographer Parker Esse use elements of Jerome Robbins' legendary dances and direction while integrating the audience into the action." Could someone explain how this production is "immersive" and "integrating the audience into the action"? I was hoping the reviewer would explain but nothing's there. Thank you. | |
| reply to this message | |
| re: WSS at Signature - spoiler please | |
| Posted by: | AuntieSue 06:46 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| In reply to: | WSS at Signature - spoiler please - Kaoru 04:24 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| The audience surrounds the stage, but the Jets and Sharks also play scenes on the metal overhead walkways. The dances are really in-your-face. It's as if you're on the sidewalk watching the action. I was overwhelmed. | |
| reply to this message | |
| re: WSS at Signature - spoiler please | |
| Posted by: | Michael_Portantiere 11:09 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| In reply to: | re: WSS at Signature - spoiler please - AuntieSue 06:46 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| I saw the production last week, and I agree that it's stunning. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: WSS at Signature - spoiler please | |
| Posted by: | stevemr 07:18 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| In reply to: | re: WSS at Signature - spoiler please - AuntieSue 06:46 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| It's a stunning production. What the previous poster doesn't convey is that those overhead walkways are only inches in front of the front rows in the Dress Circle. Its immersive, but there is no audience participation, if that's what the original poster was asking. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| What does "immersive production" mean? | |
| Posted by: | Kaoru 11:18 am EST 12/22/15 |
| In reply to: | re: WSS at Signature - spoiler please - stevemr 07:18 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| Lately more often a word "immersive" is being used to describe a production. So performing very close to the audience is an immersive production? I have seen many productions at a small theatre that I felt like I was a secret witness or being a fly on the wall in a show, but I never thought it was an immersive production nor the show itself promoted that way because it's a norm for a small theatre to produce a show like that (because of the physical limitation of the theatre). So what's the difference in this case? Is that the stage is so small and the cast is large, they perform very close to the audience all the time? | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: What does "immersive production" mean? | |
| Posted by: | BruceinIthaca 12:38 am EST 12/23/15 |
| In reply to: | What does "immersive production" mean? - Kaoru 11:18 am EST 12/22/15 |
| I'll take a stab at it, though I agree the term is an elusive one. I'd call a performance immersive if it calls on (engages, invites, or requires) the audience to do more than witness a story from the comfortable, somewhat passive role of observer. This may be done by staging (the revival of "Candide" was noted for this), by making the audience an active player (as in the voting in "Drood"), or some other way. I don't think the physical distance between performers and audience is itself sufficient for the experience to be immersive. I've been in community theatres with a stage and house the sizes of restrooms and the conventions of separation of production and audience have been maintained. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: What does "immersive production" mean? | |
| Posted by: | Michael_Portantiere 01:56 pm EST 12/22/15 |
| In reply to: | What does "immersive production" mean? - Kaoru 11:18 am EST 12/22/15 |
| "Immersive" may not be the very best word to describe the staging, but since the show is performed in a three-quarter-thrust setup in a very small house (300 seats), with even the furthest seats quite close to the stage, and also with the actors doing a lot of running around on the catwalks that surround the audience, one does very much have a feeling of being part of the action in that sense. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
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