“Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding” plays tonight through Sunday at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs. (Photo provided)
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — Theater is an ever-evolving art form.
For many, there is nothing like the joy of attending a great musical; while others prefer the intensity of a good drama. The only thing that might appeal to them is the laughter generated by a well-written comedy.
Things change. In recent decades, a new style of popular theater has evolved, combining elements of all three traditional forms while inviting audiences to actively participate in their creation.
The new genre is known as immersive or interactive experiences. A subtype of the interactive experience is the murder mystery in which the audience helps solve the crime.
This week, regional audiences have the opportunity to discover one of the first successes of immersive theater. “The Wedding of Tony ‘n Tina” will be held at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs, tonight through Sunday.
The raucous comedy-satire first appeared in 1988 and ran in New York until 2010. Combine the New York tour with its performances in more than 200 other cities around the world and you define the popular blockbuster.
In the “It Takes a Village” category, the show began as an overall concept that, over time, found its shape. Created by the artificial intelligence improvisational comedy troupe, the show’s copyright is owned by 13 members of the original company.
The idea is simple. The audience is invited to become guests at a stereotypical Italian wedding. The actors play various characters like the bride, groom, attendants and relatives.
There is a loose structure but much of the action and dialogue is improvised. Everything is designed to engage and entertain an audience by encouraging them to get involved in frivolity. Everyone will have the chance to sing, dance and get into mischief.
The premise suggests that a typical ethnic marriage is fraught with comical conflicts. Indeed, the families of the bride and groom are the future in-laws from hell.
After a quick ceremony, the reception follows in the same space. There is a DJ and the public is invited to the dance floor. They are also asked to participate in the bouquet and garter toss. These are all great participatory events ripe for over-the-top humor.
However, one area treated with respect is the Italian dinner which is part of the package. Yes, you might find Chez Whiz on crackers among the appetizers, but overall the dinner is real.
It’s more than real; it’s authentic because it’s prepared by Angie’s, the extremely popular Italian restaurant in Ballston Spa. A buffet of salad, antipasto, baked ziti, Italian meatballs and chicken marsala should be the perfect meal to reinforce the environment of an Italian wedding. If you would like to purchase tickets or learn more about the show, visit uph.org
Murder Mysteries are another form of participatory entertainment. Traditionally, the audience watches a crime unfold and becomes a witness when the one who manages to solve the crime appears. In some forms of the genre, volunteer audience members take a more active role in the performance. The event is almost always a dinner theater.
Tonight, Creative License, a very serious theater troupe that performs at Cohoes Music Hall, goes wild and produces a murder mystery at McGreivey’s Restaurant in Waterford.
“Mr. Potter and the Garden Club Mystery” is typical of the genre because it mixes comedy and mystery. The plot involves a missing man and a mysterious locked box. It’s all linked to a deceased archaeologist. While trying to solve the crime, world-renowned psychic Gwendolyn Greer digs up some dirt on the sordid past of the century-old Garden Club of Upstate New York.
“Mr. Potter and the Mystery of the Garden Club” also involves dinner. McGreivey’s serves a five-course meal featuring five of its most popular dishes as starters. In other words, you have five meal selections to choose from. For tickets and information, call (518) 238-2020. It starts at 6 p.m. Thursday.
If you go, remember that as an audience member it is important to follow the rules of the game. Anyone who attends either show should understand that they are also a member of the cast . Immersive events are not passive experiences. Once there, you have an obligation to participate. It’s definitely more fun that way.
2024-01-17 18:31:02
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