REVIEW: Step into another time (and another realm) at ‘The Spirits’ Speakeasy’
Photo: The Spirits’ Speakeasy stars Patrick Terry as Harry Houdini. Photo courtesy of Broadway Murder Mysteries / Provided by MCPR with permission.
NEW YORK — Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has invited audience members to a night of libations and ghostly wanderings. The scribe behind the Sherlock Holmes series — longtime deceased, but allow me the favor of using the present tense — holds court over a two-hour evening of songs, séances, magic tricks and things that go bump in the night. This is The Spirits’ Speakeasy, playing through Sunday, Nov. 3, at Sincerely, Ophelia, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Doyle (Brian Silliman, in a commanding voice) welcomes patrons as they enter the secret doors and leave behind the bustling streets of New York City. Audiences are then whisked away to the first of two bars for the evening. Drinks are heavenly and themed for the Halloween season. There are multiple sitting areas, and the immersive quality of the decorations and scenery is quite transportive. Many patrons dress up in period costume, circa the Roaring ’20s or something adjacent to that era — as if Jay Gatsby threw a Halloween party. Conversations are lively and include the performers as they mingle, and smartphones — not invented yet — should be tucked away for the evening.
In the back seating area, there’s a mini-stage where Pete (Sammy Rivas) offers some musical accompaniment for the evening. Lee Allen Barrett’s Howard Thurston character provides some sleight-of-hand wonders. At any given time, a performer may ascend the stage and offer a story, a joke or a song, but the proceedings are thrown asunder when the Houdinis stop by. Rori Nogee is Bess Houdini and sings many catchy tunes at the microphone, while Harry Houdini (Patrick Terry) rails against Doyle’s belief in the spirit world. The conflict between Houdini and Doyle becomes the central conflict of the evening. On which side will the audience land after these two hours? Are these ghosts real or simple parlor tricks?
Then, there’s Margery, the medium for the evening. Played by world-famous performer Krystyn Lambert, Margery drives the narrative for The Spirits’ Speakeasy. She leads three medium / mentalism sessions over the course of the night, one in each of the three rooms where patrons enjoy some drinks. The first one is a community affair, utilizing the help of everyone assembled. The second one is more intimate, with a select few channeling the spirits around a table (everyone else can voyeuristically watch). The final one, the grand finale, is best left a secret.
Altogether, The Spirits’ Speakeasy is a perfectly enjoyable night of séance fun during the Halloween season. This immersive theatrical event, created by writer Monica Hammond and director Sarah Sutliff under their company Broadway Murder Mysteries, knows how to mix the spirits with the spirits (the drinks with the ghosts) and ensure everyone is having a memorable night out. The scares are mild, but the enjoyment factor is quite high. There are times that patrons can actually feel like they’ve entered a speakeasy more than 100 years ago, that’s thanks to the ambiance being so mysterious and spooky, while the music and mayhem are playful and infectious. One can easily have a roaring good time at this spirit-filled evening.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The Spirits’ Speakeasy, created by writer Monica Hammond and director Sarah Sutliff, continues through Sunday, Nov. 3, at Sincerely, Ophelia on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Running time: 1 hour, 55 minutes. No intermission, but plenty of libations and bathrooms. Click here for more information and tickets.
