Viola’s Room Art Installation by Punchdrunk The Shed August 10, 2025 Production website 💉💉💉 out of 5.
Technically, Viola’s Room is NOT theatre in that there is no interaction between a live audience and a live performer. It is truly an art instillation with a story that is promising to have a bit of a “play” to it. Created by Punchdrunk, the company that created the long-running hit Sleep No More, it is a sensory experience guided by the pre-recorded voice of Helena Bonham Carter, queen of the creepy.
I would like to offer my list of the TOP TEN BEST PLAYS and the 5 LEAST FAVORITE PLAYS for 2024. This year I was able to take in 43 plays – and I assure you that my list is totally unlike ANY of the various people that review NYC theatre. It is ironic for me to note that my very favorite play of 2024 – Our Class – was produced by the very same company that produced the second to worst play that I saw all year – The Merchant of Venice. I have NO idea what happened to this company in the month in between productions – but it wasn’t good! Please click on the title of the following plays to read the full review:
I would like to offer my list of the TOP TEN BEST PLAYS and the TOP THREE WORST PLAYS that I saw in 2023. This year I was able to take in 27 plays – and I assure you that my list is totally unlike ANY of the various people that review NYC theatre. Please click on the title of the following plays to read the full review:
I would like to offer my list of the TOP TEN BEST PLAYS and the TOP FIVE WORST PLAYS that I saw in 2022. This year I was able to take in 17 plays – (that damn virus finally over!) and I assure you that my list is totally unlike ANY of the various people that review NYC theatre. Please do click on the title of the following plays to read the full review:
To see Take Me Out – is to meet the Yondr pouches (which I’d never heard of). Basically, it’s a thick case locker for your phone that you keep with you. The phone is locked up and inaccessible to you for the duration of your time in the theater, however is still on your person. I asked why this rather extreme and time intensive solution to having cell phones going off during the production – then I was told that that was only a side benefit. The reason that they are doing it in this show is because the actors in their contract wanted it to be impossible for the audience to take pictures of them especially since they are nude a good portion of the play. Makes sense! But, boy was it funny to watch the audience do without cell phones waiting for the curtain. That Playbill program never got read as much as it got read at Take Me Out. As soon as the intermission came you could see how desperately they wanted to spend time with their cell phone. Their texting thumbs had nothing to do. Then, right after the curtain call, they raced to get their phones removed from the security pockets. Never has a reunion meant so much.
