nycultureblog.com

The question I have to ask after my experience at the Thirteenth Street Theatre is: What is a legacy worth? How far would you go, how much would you sacrifice to leave something enduring in your wake? Consider this carefully as you read, because the thirteenth Street Repertory Company’s fate now rests on how the theatre’s owner and a small, dedicated group of performers has chosen to answer that question, and how we New Yorkers choose to respond. Now on to the good stuff:

The History

The Thirteenth Street Repertory Company Theatre is more of a landmark than I realized going into my weekly adventure, having been home to original plays from the likes of Tennessee Williams, and great talent such as that of Barry Manilow in his early career. The theatre has been open since 1972 and it’s founder and owner, one Edith O’Hara, is still there to greet her guests at the door personally.

The Scene

When you first see the theatre, you might be inclined to think that some kind of mistake has been made. You might think, “surely this tiny, unassuming place couldn’t be a theatre…” But of course, you would soon find out just how wrong you were. The theatre is indeed housed in what looks like the sub street-level unit of a very old apartment building, and you might miss it entirely if you didn’t know what to look for, but once you’re inside you’ll appreciate the cozy layout and personal atmosphere of the place. Case in point: before ever reaching the actual theatre, you’ll probably be asked to wait in the lounge area just inside the door. It’s a surprisingly intimate setting where the theatre’s patrons gather before each show, and sit on an assortment of vintage sofas and chairs, chatting and getting to know one another. Certainly not what I’d expected, but otherwise quite pleasant.

Meanwhile, the theatre itself isn’t especially large either. The seating area is probably roughly the same size as the stage, and if I had to guess, I’d say you could fit maybe 30-40 people comfortably.

The Show

When I go to a show or exhibition or anything of that nature, I tend to make a fairly strong distinction between entertainment, something that will keep you occupied and maybe take your mind off of your own life and problems for a little while, and art, which is a different creature entirely. Five Story Walkup was, in my mind, unequivocally the latter.

The show did have some comedy in it, perhaps more of the ironic variety than anything else, but this wasn’t really the focus of the performances. There were seven individual performances, almost all monologues, and almost all done flawlessly. The only reservation I could possibly express toward this show is that it’s very powerful and very human, which can catch you off guard very quickly. I don’t think you can really prepare yourself for any of it, but that’s part of the power of the show. It can be unpredictable, just like real people are unpredictable, and it can be terrifying, just like real people are terrifying at times. And the fact that no matter where you are in the theatre, you’re sitting only a few feet from the actors makes everything feel all the more real.

The Bottom Line

The show cost seventeen bucks plus whatever service fees you may incur ordering the tickets through a third party. For that you get a solid 90 minute block of of showtime, plus however long you choose to linger before or after in the cozy lounge in front, plus the satisfaction of having contributed to keeping a landmark New York theatre going despite long odds.

The show is extraordinary, but don’t come into it with the wrong expectations. This show is art more than entertainment, and you probably won’t come out of it feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Take it in for what it is: a deep, poignant meditation on human condition. Go in with that understanding and you’ll find the experience infinitely rewarding and well worth you’re seventeen bucks.

Oh and by the way, two million dollars. That’s how much the owner was offered for her stake in the theatre. She decided to keep the doors open instead, for as long as she can.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 17th, 2007 at 12:36 am and is filed under Live Performance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.