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Arts Intel Report

Viola's Room, created by Punchdrunk

A moment from Viola’s Room.

545 W 30th St, New York, NY 10001, USA

Remember Sleep No More, the theater collective Punchdrunk’s dimly lit, immersive gloss on Macbeth presented a decade and a half ago at Chelsea’s now-defunct McKittrick Hotel? Many loved the show, but it had its seamy side. For one thing, patrons were encouraged to get sauced before not sleeping, and there were complaints of hanky-panky, perpetrated by whom upon whom, I couldn’t tell you. Now Punchdrunk is back with a “haunting sensory experience where innocence unravels into obsession.” Caveat emptor! Patrons enter barefoot, treading a variety of different floor surfaces, sometimes in total darkness, sometimes amid flashing lights, as they crouch, crawl, and bend through bottlenecks and other tight squeezes (shades of Floyd Collins!). Your spirit guide is Helena Bonham Carter on audio, narrating Gothic text by Daisy Johnson. —Matthew Gurewitsch

Photo: © Viola’s Room.

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