What I liked
What I didn't like
My overall impression
For most shows, if you leave half way through it would be deemed a Skip it. But, if after 5-8 minutes you find yourself pondering a slew of things, not limited to: relationships and what situations can bring a person to do something unmentionable; all while being captivated by a performer – it would be deemed a #SeeItLA. For “A(partment 8)”, I am going to go with the latter.
When you walk up there is something Shamanistic about the woman (Annie Lesser, writer and director) who will help you with your transition into someone else’s skin. She vaguely outlines your journey as she hands you a cup of tea. It is your choice to drink it, it is your choice to do another step, and it is your choice to be there – at this point, since you have made decisions, it can blur whether you actually stepped into someone else’s skin or could easily be that person.
I don’t want to spoil anything of the experience; the above is all mentioned either within the synopsis or the waiver you sign beforehand, which is why I won’t go into much detail.
But, as for the performance itself: Lesser’s direction doesn’t coddle you into your new skin, once you’re in- you’re in. You are in a room – stay in that room until it is over, do not make a mistake and accidentally leave early.
My time was cut short because I heard music grow louder outside and thought there was something else to see, I left and cheated myself out of an experience.
Leaving was mistake for a few reasons:
1.) It was not what I felt the person whose skin I was in would have done.
2.) I didn’t want to stop watching/interacting with the performer (Keight Leighn) – who mastered being simultaneously vulnerable and dominating. Her movements were methodical, yet had a natural fluidity to it, even down to her toes.
3.) I left because I thought I couldn’t miss anything in order to give the best review possible (pushing myself out of the person’s skin) and in turn am unable to give a full review.
This is definitely a dark show and you have to be willing to embark on a journey – this is not a show for a passive audience member, for the squeamish, for those that identify as empathes, and it will not be everyone’s cup of tea (no pun intended).*
This is not immersive theatre in the normal sense, this is an immersive audience, do yourself a favor and take a chance; go #SeeItLA and immerse yourself into someone else.
If you do happen to miss this show, the ABC project will be continuing with the other letters, this gives you 26 times (in total) to see the provoking and unique work that sprouts from Lesser’s mind.
This is a definite #SeeItLA for the first half, but because of my own FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) the second half remains a #ChanceItLA.
- If you want specifics on why I say this, feel free to send an email to [email protected] and I’d be happy to give more detail.
