‘The Immersive Nutcracker Cocktail Fête’ Puts the Audience On Stage (Review)
Camp-infused participatory moments create a hilarious, festive experience
Cocktail parties and other festivities of general merry-making are no stranger in my social circle, but never have I ever been invited to a proper fête. For those of you like me, wondering what the heck a fête is, don’t worry, Merriam Webster to the rescue! A fête is a festival or a large and elaborate party, as in “the heiress wanted to do something with her life other than shuffle from fête to fête.” After acquainting myself with the definition, I was ready to get my glitz on at NYC’s festive The Immersive Nutcracker Cocktail Fête.
Set inside the stunning American Irish Historical Society, the environment was elegant and extravagant right from the start. The building spans multiple floors, all adorned with ornate furniture, artwork, and chandeliers. Upon arrival, guests have a moment to catch their breath and chat in the main lobby, setting the vibe of a more traditional cocktail party scenario, but soon everyone receives onboarding instructions as a group, including to make sure we all silence our “devil boxes,” or as we know them, cell phones.
After all the basics, we are introduced to Katherine, the writer of the evening’s performance, who promptly lets us know that although there is nothing to worry about, the entire cast for the performance has suddenly and oh so mysteriously fallen ill. (Gasp!) But not to worry, Katherine has gathered a motley crew of friends to help out last minute, and between the four of them, and of course all of us, we will certainly be able to make sure the show goes on! Everyone is whisked upstairs where it’s brought to our attention that we are all severely underdressed, but being the hospitable kind of folks they are, our hosts have gathered a few things we can borrow for the night. We are given a moment to rifle through racks of costume pieces, as well as grab a drink. A mixture of nutcracker style soldier’s coats, fascinators, opera glasses, and some tutus thrown on top of everyone’s contemporary cocktail attire complete the look and we’re finally ready to start. After everyone has acquired their new, fashionable accessories and a hot toddy, we scatter to the fringes of the room and find seats in small groups along the walls.
What proceeds is a wonderfully campy and moderately participatory version of the traditional Nutcracker story underscored by the twists and tangles of the classic “show within a show” plot. Audience members volunteer (or are volun-told) to participate in various moments of the performance playing characters like Clara’s brother and reindeer pulling a sleigh and are instructed in the moment by the performers with lines and blocking. There are also opportunities for the group as a whole to get involved with an interactive sword fighting lesson, a game of hot-potato-ballet-shoe, a couple’s dance off, and a holiday carol sing along. The mood is light and cheerful throughout and it’s hard to not have a laugh at the utter chaos of it all. The inclusion of different cocktails and treats like scones and brownies peppered throughout the night helped to keep everyone in good spirits and definitely attributed to the growing ease of participating.
Flipping between the dual worlds of the “performance” of The Nutcracker and the antics and drama of the “reality” of the performers makes the whole piece a wild ride and reminded me of similar show within a show disaster The Play That Goes Wrong. Despite the growing drama between the performers, the night has a few fun surprises, like a sudden and magical change of space and some truly absurd costumes. But like all great things, this too must end, and it does ever so sweetly with the completion of The Nutcracker and some tender resolutions within the “real life” of the performers. Soon enough we’re returning our opera glasses and bidding farewell to our new friends before heading back into real life.
The Immersive Nutcracker Cocktail Fête is pure entertainment. The piece has succeeded in creating an experience that allows audience members to get silly and lean into the absurdity and spectacle-like nature of the world without depending on them to complete it. Straddling the line between immersive and participatory theatre has created a structure that works really well while taking the pressure off the audience to actually “perform.” Yes, we did get up on stage, but the actual performers were so much more ridiculous and farcical than the audience participants that it would be hard to feel embarrassed of your own performance while standing next to them. Shifting the spotlight in this way kept the piece from scaring participants off, and the incredible fun the performers were having on stage abated any severe shyness or stage fright in the room. The combination of the jolly performance with playing dress up in fancy costume pieces in addition to the flowing drinks created the perfect circumstances for a night full of pure fun. We had such a blast at The Immersive Nutcracker Cocktail Fête, I truly don’t remember the last time I laughed so much at a show. I wouldn’t recommend attending if you’re looking for something to sink your philosophical or intellectual teeth into, but really who goes to a fête for the deep and meaningful conversation? If you’re looking for a silly but well-crafted night out with some friends, The Immersive Nutcracker Cocktail Fête is a winner, hands down.
The Immersive Nutcracker Cocktail Fête continues through January 26. Tickets are $50.
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