Has anyone seen this yet? A small group of us went last night, one of whom had seen Punchdrunk's Faust, and I'd love to hear other people's thoughts...

Why not start by telling us yours?

Job

I've seen it - it's great, isn't it? Not quite the perfection of Faust, but that would be impossible!

I guess I've been playing poker too long and was waiting to see what the other person did first ...

I thought the setting was wonderful, incredibly evocative and very spooky at times. I split up from my friends quite early on as I'd been told you have a more interesting experience that way, and I did indeed see some things that they didn't. I got danced with and told a story at the same time, with only one or two other people in the room, and got given a cloak for free, along with a kiss from a rather cute young man. The entertainment in the bar area was great fun, too.

But I was left strangely unmoved by the experience. Someone on a theatre blog site described it as wandering around at a wedding of someone you don't know very well which really summed it up for me. I adored the detail, and thought the performers were uniformly watchable, but because there wasn't any kind of storyline at all (and I'm not usually someone who needs everything spelt out), I felt oddly unengaged.

Having said that, I did enjoy the novelty of the experience and it was definitely an eye opener to be masked and feeling able to go up to anyone or poke around any of the rooms. And the music at the party afterwards made even my usually not to be dragged to the dancefloor partner dance!

Recommended as a visual spectacle and a very interesting psychological exercise, I would say. Then again, that could be me not giving in, or not immersing myself properly, I don't know. Or just bad luck at always seeming to arrive at rooms just as they emptied, not sure.

That's really why I'd like to hear other people's thoughts. I heard such rave reports of Faust that I couldn't miss this one when it came up, but although I had a good time and was quite "buzzy" at the end of the evening, I wouldn't rave about it.

I agree with most of what you say. The storyline is deliberately much more disjoined than Faust's, where it was still confusing but it was possible to catch the overall narrative. That is just impossible with this show, and I can how that frustrates some people.


The thing is Faust was literally the most wonderful thing ever...the combination of the performers, the story, the electric atmosphere created in that amazing amazing building...this show could never be as good. I understand how you would come out of this show not feeling the need to rave, but no one came out of Faust feeling like that.


I am looking forward to revisiting this show a few times to dig deeper into both the narrative(s) and the building itself, which I found near-impossible to navigate the first time around.

"I understand how you would come out of this show not feeling the need to rave, but no one came out of Faust feeling like that. "

I did, Josh. I know you thought it was the most wonderful thing ever staged in the history of theatre because you've said so several times! and I'm very pleased you had such a good time. I found it original and interesting and well worth seeing for that (and for the impressive acrobatics at the end), but ultimately more about style than substance and not entirely satisfying - in fact, more or less what cha says about this one.

Well I saw Faust six times and, after one viewing, I preferred MOTRD and that was always going to be difficult.

Why? I didn't feel as though I had to try and follow one story and, because the others didn't it wasn't a case of overcrowded scenes. The design was simply astonishing, more detailed than Faust to a very large degree. The atmosphere it created, together with the greater use of dialogue and the extremes of emotion on display was oppressive and gripping I felt. The music and effects were more integrated (I noted bits of Satie and Vaughan Williams among others) and also of a piece.

Some may find a lack of one story line confusing, I found it to be the biggest improvement on Faust.

SPOILER SPOILER-
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The resting place of the Music Hall was much more effective and central than the Faust bar, the sense that there was warmth and safety and outside lay danger and death. Two scenes particularly gave me the chills, one where I was at the top of the marble staircase watching the cast process up as if raised from the dead and in one of the vaults where a woman (I don't know how) managed to cram herself into a metal box (as a lifeless body) only to re-emerge as the living dead. I knew the House of Usher story and that helped to anchor me, as did a vague knowledge of gothic literature and abnormal psychological states.

Phew. I'm seeing it again next week (with a group this time) and am taking a few more groups later than that. If you get a sense of Poe before going (especially 'House of Usher' and 'MOTRD' itself) and (as I say) gothic literature that would be useful but the main thing you need to know before going in is that you don't have to decode a story. If you try to then you will be frustrated and disengaged.

The one thing that needs to be redone - the ending dance was too long and the final 'act' too far away from some of the audience, I suppose you also need to know what that last section represents to round off the evening as well.

Loved this last Saturday. But of course when I met up with my partner we’d both seen different scenes. Any tips on the best place to start? Or the best character to follow?
(BIT OF A SPOILER...)
What happens to Roderick Usher (”Mr Smith”) after he’s dragged out of the theatre when the mindreading goes wrong? The bowler hatted ones stop you following them backstage.
And I wanted to catch the girl who climbs out of the crypt. How early does that happen? And did anyone find the secret bar? Am going again in December and thought it would be fun to hit the stuff I missed.

Where is the mindreading? Is it in the bar thing? The Palais Royal?

Yes, I also want to find the secret bar. Argh!

The mind reading is inThe Palais Royal.

SPOILERS BUT IF YOU'RE READING THIS THEN YOU ARE PROBABLY INQUISITIVE ABOUT IT ANYWAY
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I spent the first 30 minutes looking in every room possible then followed characters round, switching to different characters depending on who I thought looked the most interesting and who I hadn't seen on the first loop.

I do know that I saw two burials, a few murders, a couple of descents into insanity and/or catalepsy and various ghostly apparitions. I didn't spend more than five minutes in the Palais Royal, I preferred the relative unsafety of the 'streets'.

Didn't you find it reallyy hard to follow characters around though? Due to the narrow spaces, and darkness, and other audience members?


Yeah, I only spent a few minutes in the Palais Royal, didn't realise that things actually happened there...thought it was just a hangout for the lazies!


I'd like some spoilery details of the murders or apparitions you saw, or hints as to where to find them, as I don't think I saw any!!

(MAJOR SPOILERS!)
Very early on there's a bar tender in the wine cellar (next to the Perfumery) who knots a black napkin into a cat and then tells you how he hates black cats before stabbing its "eye" out and then offers the olive to the nearest guest. (read the story "The Black Cat").
Then next door a bearded apothecary in a top hat buys a perfume from the lady in the shop and rushes backstage to the Palais Royal to leave it for the ballet dancer, who's just come off stage.
At that point I went through to the seating in the theatre and caught the end of 2 blokes doing a lewd song, and then Roderick Usher is brought on as "Mr Smith" to do some rather fun mindreading. In the first show the magician appears to skewer him in the arm with a long metal spike (complete with blood) which made some of the women in the audience yelp a bit. I noticed the second time round they didn't do that! There's a fair bit of audience participation in the mindreading. (and no masks in there, remember) If any of the cast ask your name, hang about, and you might get quite a surprise very shortly!
After the mind reading I wondered off and there's a great playout from the Fall of the house of Usher in a big card room and an antiroom; with a pale girl with long black hair coming in from the deathbed next door. Crawl through the fireplace in the cardroom and you'll come out in a wardrobe on the other side. The "dead" sister came out of that and up to guests to whisper cryptically in their ear about how she knows what really happened.
Downstairs there's a very odd feast in the big room next to the petrified forest, hung with papers. It turns into some kind of frenzied assault on one of the gentlemen from the Palais Royal; with loads of characters ripping pillows open over him, and stuffing them in his mouth. My partner went later on and found a nurse using it as a hospital.
In the opium den upstairs I found it once full of prostitutes, and the apothecary taking a delivery, and then, about an hour later, empty except for the proprietor. He asks you to deliver a note to the man in the tailors next door where you can exchange your victorian penny for a cloak (red for the ladies).
My partner got singled out within minutes of arriving though, and taken in a group of 3 into this very creepy show where they put headphones and a blindfold on you. So there are a few things where it's just luck.
he also found the apothecary where a consultation was going on. And a room where a woman reads a few pages of a Poe story before breaking off laughing hysterically.
I found an empty coffin in the crypt, and there are 2 servants who seem to be terrified crawling around down there and in the cellar kitchen, but I missed the girl climbing out of the crypt. That's the one I want to catch.

LOTS OF SPOILERS
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Was there for the second time last night, the main change has been the ending and this now starts differently and seems to be in a more concentrated space (could be changes in lighting), the design of the final room has also been extended and improved. I also thought the end of the Usher sequence had been made more powerful, with extra smoke, lightning and so on.

Thanks Sam London, next time (I know but I take groups and have the benefit of being with them!) I shall look out for some of those things. There is a wonderful dance based on the story Berenice, with Fernanda Prata (Martha in Faust). She is cataleptic and manipulated like a marionette, as she is left on her own there is a quite scary solo where she seems to go into total spasm. I followed this story for a while and her husband (they are the ones who are 'married' on the staircase) goes mad (not unusual for this show) and ends up doing an astonishing fall down the staircase landing at her feet where she appears and laughs at him.

I caught something in the attic but didn't stay around, someone was climbing up in the rafters there. I also heard someone else tell of a six in a bed romp somewhere, anyone else know what that's about?!? Another was locked in a cupboard with Madeline Usher and they talked about secrets.

Found some different rooms, saw some different characters, nearly felled a couple of times by flying dancers, gradually piecing it all together and another few visits will reveal more I am sure.

How fascinating Cardinal. I shall watch out for the Berenece story. Do post any other things you find on your multiple visits, as I'm going again with friends in December. Especially I'd like to know where to start if you want to follow the Usher characters. I'm still wondering if anyone saw Madeleine(?) rise from the crypt? And how early on that happens.

Going to see it on Tuesday, very very excited! Those of who who've already been, would you advise reading the short stories first? Part of me thinks it might be a good idea based on what some have said, but then I could imagine it being equally good just going along and enjoying the experience even if you don't know exactly who the characters are. Any thoughts?

Just came back from the show. Really liked it but not sure what I felt of it. For me, it's not theatre, it's more like an experience. I didn't read the programme or the stories beforehand so have NO idea what the hell's happening.
Did the whole action happen twice? Cuz I saw the whole chaotic meal in the dining room (which I assume is from 'The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether') twice, so the second time I slipped away to see something else. Btw I really liked that scene, it's so good to see those performers dance up CLOSE.
I didn't see a cat... is there a real cat? I read about The Black Cat story and wonder where and how it was done. I don't think I came across the William Wilson story... I did follow a drunken guy carried by 2 men into this room filled with cards on the floor and in that room, there's like a smaller room with white veils and a blonde guy keeps coming in and out of there. Through that room is another bedroom where there was a girl and a man (I suspect a doctor maybe?) was talking to her. I really liked the nightclub where I sat down for awhile next to the card reader guy who didn't do anything when people came up to him.
One of my favourite scenes is the ending bit, the space, the mists, the red lighting, the red confetti, the dancing and the ending... was just... perfection! It was such an amazing moment.
I find myself wandering around the place, quite often into... the toilets! Next to the attic there was this toilet, I went in and went for my pee and when suddenly the lights went off and I thought 'oh shit! this cannot be part of the set surely!' and the lights went back on and I washed my hands to dash off. Standing outside was this woman without a mask and I thought she was part of the show or something? She said 'move along, I really need the loo!'... very random but weird, thought I might share it
There was this bit when one of the characters walk down the main stairway and I was standing in the forest looking upwards and as he walks down, audiences surrounding him follows him and since everyone were in masks, it looks like a bunch of... soul-eaters? or ghosts? something horrible and hell-ish. And an idea hit me and freaked me out. I thought.. what if in real life, I'M like that person and there are alot of these scary invisible figures surrounding and observing me... that moment freaked me out.

I was there last night too. I missed most of the main stories I've heard other people talk about but I wanted to comment on my Opium Den experience. Did anyone else get accosted by an actor and taken into an alcove only for them to close the curtains around you, take your mask off and start whispering in your ear (and doing other 'interesting' things to your ear)?
I don't quite know how to put this but - well, the temptation to reciprocate was overwhelming! Needless to say, I didn't. But I wondered if anyone else dared - or was at least tempted!!

I was also too overwhelmed to hear anything other than something about 'your blood is thickening'. Anyone else know what he was saying?

visited the show twice now and stewarted 4 times and did a workshop but there are still SOO many unanswered questions for me! I just can't get enough of this production!

Does anyone know the name of the swing jazz/big band song that they play out of the speakers immediately as you enter the ballroom for the final dance scene? Its been doing my head in ever since i saw the play in october and again last week.

I got a card of theirs and here's what it says:

PRINCE PROSPEROS ALL STARS

The 'Masque of the Red Death' band

"An energy driven ballroom dance of spectacular thrill" - Curtain Up

Contact: princeprosperoallstars@gmail.com 07947 352 413
www.myspace.com/princeprosperoallstars


Hope that helps!

I went to see this last night. Wow - what an experience! Maybe it was because I was always the little girl who wandered around Manor Houses and Museums wishing I could walk around them pretending I was 'of the time...' - Who knows!

I didn't see a lot of the stories...I was too busy wandering around...

I'd suggest to anyone who's going to see it to just go for it, to wander off on your own and go up the stairs/down the stairs/through even the darkest area...Especially if you see audience members around you chicken out!

I was the first person to find the Music Hall and as a result was rewarded with a shot of House Vodka from the 'owner' of the hall...and another veeerrryy interesting experience in there too, but I won't spoil that for people!

Although towards the end it got to the stage where I was no longer finding new scenes/places and my experience dipped a bit - I still had an amazing time.

I'd like to go again now I've 'slept on' the experience. But it's the hottest ticket in town...so I think I'm out of luck!

To the person asking about the Opium Den experience - my friend had him whisper in her ear 'I had a dream about you last night...' - She had some amazing one on ones...such as being locked in rooms with just one other actor etc - but having said that she REALLY went for it and was touching people and standing very close to them until they 'did something' - That's something I'd love to try if I were to go again. I didn't want to get in trouble so didn't try! hehe.

Had a chat with the artistic director and she said these 'one on one' experiences are when performers drag audience members into a small space/room for something weird, it is some sorta reward back to the audience who has been faithful enough to follow particular characters. I was pulled by Pierrot into a corridor next to the commission room and he started to blow air into my ear and starts whispering 'I've been dreaming about you' and then starts kissing my neck and then pulls me into the back of the space and sits me down. He puts some makeup onto my lips and then uses my hands to wash his face and then leads me back out of the space. This one-on-one happens after his solo dance at the stairways. I also had a one-on-one before when Madeline Usher dragged me into her cupboard in her bedroom, a very small space and takes off my mask and stares at me and shows me a flower and then went away. I know there are other one-on-ones where Bon-Bon drags someone into his wine-cellar and tells him something, the perfumer also has a one-on-one with a customer.

I don't think there is a linear storyline because I feel that The Black Cat has been done by two different pair of people and also these performers don't only have one particular role and stories happen within story. There is also a treasure hunt throughout the whole run of the production, it will be revealed near the end of the production.

I have seen whole stories of The Black Cat, Ligeria (danced by the Pierrot performer at the main stairway and also the big bedroom next to the main stairways), Fall of the House of Usher, System of Doctor Tarr & Professor Fether (the amazing dance sequel in the asylum/dining hall), The Tell Tale Heart (the room in the attic & the room in the basement), Cask of Amontillado (basement) and quite a few more and also I would highly recommend to try to watch some different shows in the Comission Room on the corridor on the right of the Main Stairways.

MsLaGuardia, when you're in Palais Royale (Music Hall), did you have the strip-tease or mind-reading or did you speak to the hooded figure (he's a servant of William Morray in The Golden Bug, giving out clues of the location of the treasure)?

I had the mind reading act - and I got quite involved at the very end of the act *gulp* - But I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it...I never saw a hooded figure...

I'd love to go again, there's so much I'd love to see...

how did you find the Finale? I've seen the finale like 7 times now and it is still amazing, that ending still gives me gasps!

The finale was amazing, but I found the rest of it fascinating and frustrating in equal measure - coming away with the feeling that I had missed so much being in the wrong place at the wrong time!
I also felt cheated that the 7.45 entry did not get any additional time at the end of the evening, and missed out on 30 minutes that other people had!
The masks are not easy to wear if you wear spectacles - I would have worn my contact lenses if I had known.

I enjoyed the sets and props and thought the use of space brilliant

You should wear your glasses outside the mask. It worked perfectly for me - I never had a problem with it. I entwined the elastic of the mask round the arm of the spectacles so they couldn't fall off.

Seeing it again on Saturday - can't wait. Look out for me - I'll be the one wearing a white mask.

Job

MsLaGuardia, I saw the mind-reading 2 days ago, it was WOW! How did Roderick Usher (Julian Stolzenberg) figure out the intials is beyond me!

We tend to ask audiences to wear their glasses outside their masks but there are some masks with a flatter and smaller nose which does not suit glasses so much and depending on everyone's glasses, it's not that great for everyone. So sometimes we tend to be kinda casual with audiences wearing glasses have their masks on their head.

The action happens twice in a show so you're not REALLY cheated but you do have 30 mins less than the other audiences (not supposed to say this but you can come at 7.15 to queue even though you have 7.45 tickets) but the fact is I've known audiences who enter at around 8.30 cuz they can't find the place, forgot about the time... etc just pure annoying! haha!

Most people find the show both fascinating and disappointed at the same time, as I've said, I've seen n been in the show quite a few times now but there are stuff that I do not know about. I think it really depends on what you want to get out of the show, a linear plot or just the experience. If the latter, you'll be much more happy!

Job, see you on Saturday and remember to stay on!! there will be a Red Death Late Night Party after the show, last late night party and apparently, it's gona be huge! performances from students who attended the Red Death workshops.

I don't want to spoil it, but anyone who watched series 1 of Jonathan Creek (over 10 years ago now!) will be thoroughly unimpressed...

I don't remember that episode (love Jonathan Creek!) but I do think I know how they did the inititals thing during the act in Masque Of...

I don't want to write it out on here through incase someone will be saddened by the reality

Plus I could be wrong!

But lets just say I was standing very close to the stage and the compere misheard one woman's letters...

Just came back from the show, the Late night was amazing, great performances from the cast and also the workshop students! what an amazing night! I guess everyone's counting down now... so sad!

Yes, another great evening overall. But I didn't go a bundle on the workshop students' piece. It was a tad embarrassing - a pale retread of the real thing, but done by enthusiasts rather than by experts. A bit like the Batley Townswomen's Guild's Re-Enactment of the Battle of Pearl Harbor.

All the same, Masque is a truly memorable show, and just as good second time around. I got to drink the good wine, so spent the evening in dread of certain doom, whereas my daughter was told (quite pleasantly) that by chugging down the killer draught she was being spared a slow, lingering death. It's so nice to see a proper family show for once.

What's next from Punchdrunk? Dante's Inferno? Bring it on!

Job

The student show was choreographed by Vinicus Salles, one of the performers in the show (his normal role is the husband in The Black Cat and the raven in The Raven). I thought for a 6 hr plan & rehersal process, it was quite good! And Meline Danielwicz's singing was quite nice! She's one of the cast members as well. When she was first screaming, everyone was like 'this girl had one drink too much!' lol
Have you seen the chicken & lamp guys?! they're not hired! they actually came like tat! WEIRD! btw Job, you don't happen to be the person who went up to me and said 'its you again!' during the show right??

Their next show in London won't be til 2010, sadly...
but they've got a few other things around the country (and internationally) that will happen before then!

Havent heard any new things comin up but they did say Faust is planning to go to New York, which I'll DEFINITELY fly over to watch since I've missed it in London!!!! But awww how sad their next project won't be til 2010!!!!!

Yeah, Faust will start in New York late this year! Very exciting.
You should definitely get over there to see it, if you think Red Death is good, then you will be absolutely BLOWN AWAY by Faust.


I'm not sure how much I'm allowed to say, but the things that Punchdrunk will be doing out of London between now and 2010 sound really really cool, definitely worth travelling to. I know I'll be travelling to them because I can't wait til 2010 for the next London show!

There wasn't anything particularly wrong with the student show, but I just thought it was out of place at such an event. After three hours of the real thing, and in the midst of such fabulous music fom the band, I thought it was a bit of a limp biscuit. But I agree with you about the singer. Great.

Sorry, Felix - that wasn't me. Or was it...? Actually it might have been! I think maybe I did say that to somebody. Describe me and I'll let you know.

I was the bloke scrabbling on the floor trying to find the lens that fell out of my glasses when I removed my mask and forgot I was wearing them. Which one were you?

Job

Then it wasn't you Job. There was this lady with fluffy hair and it was 10 mins into the show and she went up to me and said 'it's you again!' n I was like 'wtf?!' (which I do have quite alot I have to admit!)... I was guarding the fire exit outside the Ligeria/BlackCat bedroom... the big one with the weird record player and a broken wall? it's just next to the long dark corridor and a toilet. Anyway, then I went to the guard at the Marble Stairway. I have to say... audiences are REALLY weird with their masks on! haha

Hm. In that case, were you the guard I showed my 'skull' card to and gestured a question as to where I'd find the Library?

Job

Im not sure, I did ignore a guy showing me some card and he just walked off... was that stewart Chinese by any chance? Cuz if he was, then it's me

Yes, that was me. (You swine... I never did find the Library.)

Job

crap im sorry! but the library's literally just next to you. in the door on your left, my right, in the room that's blue. I think that's the library, if not it could be Dupin's office. But that's the 2 places I've seen alot of books in.

FINAL 2 WEEKS !!!!
AHHHH I think I will really miss this show! See it if you can get tickets if you havent already seen it before!