Theater Studies
The event I attended was a theatrical performance of, “Little Shop of Horrors.” It was, of course, off Broadway and with amateur actors, but still worth mentioning, as it was very good and did the piece justice. The space itself left something to be desired; it was small and at times seemed to be poorly lit. This could have been to set the mood, primarily during musical numbers. However, any efforts made to potentially set the mood with light were misguided. The space was dim, and left me squinting at the stage at times to make out what was happening toward stage left and right. This was annoying and took away from parts of the performance that would have otherwise been enjoyable. The audience’s space was also slightly cramped. I understand that small spaces can help an audience connect with the performers and the piece in a unique and intimate way; this has happened to me before. It was not the case this time. The audience was too close together, while there was a berth of at least ten feet between the audience and the stage. Rather than connecting with the performers, we were left trying not to elbow one another as we clapped, or moved. Should I experience this performance in this space again, I would remove many of the chairs and tables. I understand many people wanted to see the performance, therefore, more performances would be added to accommodate need in an effort to keep everybody comfortable. I would also use the small space to help the audience connect better with the performers, rather than with each other. A semi-circle seating arrangement, rather than rows, and closer to the stage, would be more agreeable. Because it was a small space, the audience was able to react well, and the experience was enjoyable overall, but changes still could have been made.
