If you don’t mind that the players in the story are not present, and you’re comfortable wearing mixed reality glasses, you might want to check out An Ark, at The Shed. While virtual reality replaces the reality around the viewer with computer-generated content and is considered full immersion, mixed reality refers to virtual content blended with the physical world around a viewer, the virtual content overlaid onto the real stuff.
An Ark is being promoted as the first play created for MR, and Ian McKellen (Lord of the Rings, X-Men, plenty of Shakespearean plays) might be as much of a hook as the promise of mixing up reality. The ensemble also includes Golda Rosheuvel (Bridgerton, Not Your Superwoman), Arinzé Kene (Get Up, Stand Up!, Misty), and Rosie Sheehy (Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre). Presented by The Shed and Tin Drum, the work was created by Tony Award–winning writer Simon Stephens (Vanya, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time), director Sarah Frankcom (Our Town), and mixed reality pioneer Todd Eckert.
With a running time of 47 minutes, it’s relatively short, but An Ark seeks to unfold the mystery of human experience; according to the press release, to “shepherd you into an understanding of the human condition, encompassing the joy of first love and the inevitability of death.” The actors appear before you and speak directly to you, which could register as amazing or scary or weird, or some combination thereof.
You’ll need to be willing to remove your shoes (thankfully, socks are permitted). And even if your socks aren’t knocked off, An Ark might divert you from the news cycle for a bit. ❖
An Ark
The Shed
545 West 30th Street
Through April 4
Recommended for ages 14 and up