A Surrealistic Journey Well Worth
Taking
Reviewed by Judd Hollander
Did you ever have a dream where
different elements from completely separate parts of your life - a current
love, a place you visited as a child, a long-dead relative - suddenly come
together in a way that makes perfect sense? This intersectionality best
describes the exquisite and immersive experience that is The Lost
Supper – A Hypnotic Dinner Party. Taking place at the McKittrick Hotel,
home to the legendary Sleep No More, and the soon-returning At
The Illusionist’s Table, The Lost
Supper is an event that occurs in a missed pocket of time.
Taking place at The Attic, a newly
rediscovered space at the McKittrick, the event begins as guests are led through
several different rooms, each of which has a feeling of being somewhat
off-kilter. Some rooms provide hints of explanation as to what you are seeing,
while others invite conclusions. However, in either case, the line between what
is real and what is not becomes increasingly blurred.
Inside the main event - a dinner party that takes place in a
distinctly mid-20th century supper club slightly out of sync with history - guests
are seated by name at pre-arranged tables. Musical numbers from the late
1940s to the early 60s are performed during dinner, which is a three-course
meal, with preferences selected at time of ticket purchase - a vegetarian
option is offered - served by extremely talented hosts and waiters, who appear
both on and off the stage, constantly interacting with guests in a perfectly
synchronistic plotline that weaves audience, story and performers together
seamlessly. In such an altered atmosphere, what is served really doesn't
matter, but many of the menu items are reminiscent of then-trendy food in the
1950s.
While there is no formal dress code
for The Lost Supper, "festive, chic, costume attire" is
suggested. Many guests wore period-appropriate costumes, many were in modern
dress, but dressing as the McKittrick suggests will help you blend in better
with the performers and hosts, who are a constant presence throughout. At
points, guests and performers were nearly indistinguishable as they enjoyed the
evening and the dinner party unfolded.
Telling too much about The
Lost Supper would spoil the delight of being a part of the spectacle
that unfolds before your very eyes. In the tradition of events presented at the
McKittrick, the more guests chose to participate in spirit of the dinner party,
the more fun and interesting it is.
Definitely a one-of-a-kind
experience, The Lost Supper offers a fascinating peek into a
different sense of reality which you will not soon forget. Nor, one might add,
should you want to.
The
Lost Supper
The McKittrick Hotel
Reservations are required in
advance for all performances.
Running Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes
No comments:
Post a Comment