The Watering Hole

Glad you enjoyed it. Genuinely, I'm envious. I was excited for this - I really like Nottage, I liked the concept. But thought it was interminable and pretentious. Of the 15 or so theatrical experiences I've had during COVID, this was far and away my least favorite.

The written pieces were too abstract and hyper-poetic for me, to the point where it just registered as total nonsense, going in one ear and out the other, with nothing meaningful to latch onto. Or if they weren't abstract, they were all narration-driven (like the swimming pool one), which I also hate. I was bored or uncomfortable through almost every piece, though I agree the fire hydrant one was the best, probably because it was the most accessible. If you found the poetic pieces moving and meaningful, you're probably smarter and more perceptive than I am, honestly. It was very esoteric, and I have a hard time with stuff like that, unless it's really grounded in a narrative, or with visuals.

I might be wrong, but I don't think Nottage actually did any of the writing - I believe she and Haymon just conceived and curated it, with other artists hired to create the pieces.

I also thought the logistics of the experience are really awkward. I wish there had been some attempt to make the transitions feel more theatrical in some way, to keep you in the mood of the experience. Going in and out of the pieces gave me whiplash, especially because my group loved to chat and make comments about this and that. The groups of 4 were both too big and too small - I'd rather it be an individual experience, or in a larger group where you don't feel so much pressure to be "on."

And the poor Signature staff members are being asked to guide us through this artistic experience, giving us these arty directions like "feel free to dance if you want to" or "take a deep breath, and go through door whenever you're ready" but it felt so awkward because they are clearly staff members at a theatre company dealing with audience members, not really equipped to set any kind of an artistic mood. They should have hired actors to guide the audience.

And beginning with that letter-writing thing was so bizarre and uncomfortable, and weirdly inappropriate. The very first thing the audience is asked to do is to "write a short postcard to a member of the incarcerated community, and we'll deliver it" - and that's it. What? To whom? What am I, a privileged theatre-goer, supposed to say to an incarcerated stranger that doesn't come across as super condescending and performative?

All I can say for this piece is that it featured some cool pieces of visual design, some creative uses of space, and it comes with a built-in tour of Signature's backstage facilities. Aside from that, it was a cool idea, but for me, a total misfire.

Sauja said: "I have one on-topic question and one off. To start on subject, can I ask how participatory the installations are? JBroadwaymentions writing a letter and an invitation (but not instruction?)to dance. But how much interaction is required? I get very nervous doing any sort of audience participation and suspect I would be MORE awkward with only my guest and two strangers. Are you called on to speak or perform in any way: that I suppose is my real question. Or is it more that you CAN dance and CAN discuss, but don't have to, say...sing a song or anything?

Certainly nothing as vulnerable as singing a song, though dancing is pretty vulnerable. At one point you're asked to whisper your name to yourself.

And anyway, you aren't REQUIRED to do anything, but there's an implicit pressure to participate. The problem is, when you're in a group of only 4 people, plus 1 staff member, it's sort of hard to sit anything out, because each audience member is very exposed. If 1 person doesn't participate, 1/4 of the group is just awkward standing there, and the staff member is highly aware of you. And, god forbid, NONE of the 4 choose to participate, then the segment of the evening is a total bust, and everyone just sits silently for the allotted time until you move on to the next installation.



"And then, JBroadway, you mention having been able to take in about a dozen theater events over the pandemic. I'm just curious what else you managed to see/do."



Since September, I've seen/done:

"Cairns" - Gelsey Bell's soundwalk piece through Greenwood Cemetary

"The Busking Project" - Bill Irwin solo show performed on the street

"The Telelibrary" - a theatre piece with an actor over the phone

"The Dentist" - a Commedia d'ellarte adaptation performed in a park

"Temping" - an interactive, in-person experience for 1 audience member at a time

"The Seagull on Sims 4" - sort of debatable, but I've been counting it as a theatre experience because of the interactive component with the live chat.

"In the Kitchen" - an audio theatre piece that involves you cooking a recipe along with it - they sent you the box of ingredients in the mail.

"Taxilandia" - a theatre piece for 1-3 audience members, performed in a moving taxi

"The Broken Ear Setlist" - The Bengsons' show at St. Ann's

"Social! The Social Distance Dance Club" at the Armory

"The End of White Supremacy: An American Romance" - a sort of reading of a solo piece/essay, performed by Andre Holland, at 92y

"Afterwardness" at the Armory

A comedy show on my recent trip to San Francisco

And then this, "The Watering Hole."



Upcoming I have:

"King Lear" at NY Classical Theatre

"Seize the King" at Harlem Classical

"What to Send Up When it Goes Down" at BAM

"A Thousand Ways" - I'll be doing both parts in the same day

"Enemy of the People" - at the Armory

And hopefully, "Merry Wives" though I obviously don't have tickets reserved.

Sort of on the fence about Blindness, but the +1 I was planning to go with ended up going with someone else, so I might just pass.

Updated On: 6/25/21 at 02:21 PM