REVIEW: ‘The Sleepy Hollow Experience’ in Tarrytown, NY
Photo: The Sleepy Hollow Experience reimagines Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and it’s set at Irving’s actual Sunnyside estate. Photo courtesy of Historic Hudson Valley / Provided by official website.
This past Halloween season, The Sleepy Hollow Experience descended upon a location perfectly fit for the immersive theatrical show: Washington Irving’s Sunnyside estate in Tarrytown, New York. Irving, of course, was the writer of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, which gave the world Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman.
The Sleepy Hollow Experience, presented by Brian Clowdus and Historic Hudson Valley, played a sold-out, extended engagement at Sunnyside, and it was no surprise why hundreds of Halloween revelers enjoyed the one-hour performance piece.
For starters, is there a better way to experience this horror-filled tale than the mansion of the writer who penned the original short story? At a recent performance, the moon was high in the sky, casting long shadows along the mansion on the estate. There was a brisk chill in the air, and upon close inspection, one could see wisps of ghostly clouds coming from the actors’ mouths.
And what expert actors they were. They braved cold temperatures to bring this tale to life, imbuing the proceedings with song, drink, scares and laughs. They worked hard and dedicated themselves to Shakespeare’s saying, “All’s the world a stage,” even a lawn and front porch.
The theatrical performance, which is set entirely outside, begins by the parking lot of Sunnyside. After tickets are scanned in, audience members head down a dark and foreboding path, mysteriously lit by lanterns. At the main entrance, ticket buyers can enjoy some spirits at the bar, some mementos in the gift shop and some bathrooms in the heated building.
Once the Experience formally begins, 2019 is quickly left behind, and everyone is whisked away to the time of Irving’s tale, the early 19th century. The action of the story plays out in a number of locations around the writer’s estate, which is now run by Historic Hudson Valley, a nonprofit that promotes and interprets historic landmarks in the Hudson Valley of New York. There’s a scene on Sunnyside’s back porch, facing the Hudson River and that most modern of conveniences: a bullet train to New York City. A small amphitheater is set up near Ichabod’s supposed schoolhouse, and dancing and reveling continue at a circular stage in the woods. The pièce de résistance is the flight of the Headless Horseman, which is too eerily perfect to spoil.
Halfway through the one-hour duration, attendees have the chance to enjoy more libations and utilize those bathrooms again. It’s important to dress warm and wear comfortable shoes. Although the terrain is easy enough, there are few places to sit down, and the performance continues rain or shine.
Clowdus, who Hollywood Soapbox recently profiled, is an expert at outdoor immersive experiences, and this local rendition of his successful Sleepy Hollow offering surely must be a highlight of his suite of shows. It’s so rare to have a form of modern entertainment match up with actual history, but that’s what The Sleepy Hollow Experience does: marry the ambiance of a good Halloween tale with the real background of the man who gave birth to the creepy narrative.
Although performances of The Sleepy Hollow Experience have finished for the season, here’s hoping Historic Hudson Valley brings back the mysterious offering next October. The immersive experience fit nicely with the nonprofit’s other seasonal treats, like The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, which continues through Nov. 30 at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, New York.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The Sleepy Hollow Experience recently played Washington Irving’s Sunnyside in Tarrytown, New York. Click here for more information. Rating: 
