Unconventional Theatre

Eight Days
Theatre In Decay Company
February 25-March 5, 2006
Written and Directed by Robert Reid

"Performed in the dark, the terrifying siege of RubyRidge. "
http://www.theatreindecay.com/reception.html

The biggest and most obvious thing that makes this show unconventional is that it is performed in the dark. Usually, one thinks of theatre as a visual experience, but this one is done entirely with voices in a darkened space. It harkens back to classical theatre, when theatre was to be heard more than seen.

Lear
Young Jean Lee's Theatre Company
January 7-February 14, 2010
Written and Directed by Young Jean Lee

"A Lear-less "Lear" about children turning their backs on their aging fathers, Lee's irreverent tragedy challenges our love of watching terrible things."
http://www.sohorep.org/current.html

A modern reworking of Shakespeare's King Lear, this show does something interesting. It focuses on the children of Lear, and leaves the man himself out of the piece altogether. The show centers around interactions of the original characters when they are not "on-stage" in the original script. It appears to be similar to the idea behind Rosencrantz and Gildenstern Are Dead.

Les Miserables
Signature Theatre
December 2, 2008-January 25, 2009
Written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg
Directed by Eric Schaeffer

"If the goal in this insta-revival was to see whether "Les Miz" could be confined to smaller quarters, then Signature has more than proved the point. As it turns out, you don't need massive real estate to keep this musical real."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/16/AR2008121603112.html

This performance of a classic musical was done in an interesting way. The seating is on three sides of the performing area, and there is no raised stage. Further, it was done in a very small space, so that the audience is in very close proximity to the cast. Also, the traditional turntable was not used, instead being replaced by an intricate system of flown in pieces of scenery and set. Also, the backdrop is of windows lit from behind, with some broken, instead of the traditional scenery used in this show.

The Scarlet Pimpernel
FoolsGold Theatre Company
July 2006
Written by Baroness Orczy
Directed by Tim Beasley

"It is a promenade show which means the audience have to walk to different locations to watch the action, at Royden Park, Frankby, where I saw it, these varying between an open field, woodland glade, footpath and a moor."
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/entertainment/previewsandreviews/tm_objectid=17357110&method=full&siteid=50061-name_page.html#story_continue

The FoolsGold Theatre Company does something unconventional with its locations. The shows themselves are often performed as written, but the performances take place outside, such as in this version of The Scarlet Pimpernel. The audience is led around by the director, from place to place, instead of sitting in a theatre. This use of the outdoors and of getting the audience more involved is interesting and different.

Peter And Wendy
Mabou Mines Theatre
May 1996
Written by Liza Lorwin
Directed by Lee Breuer

"On an all-white set representing an Edwardian nursery, a solitary woman arrives home, picks up a beloved book, and reads aloud, both telling the story and speaking the voices of all the other characters, who are brought to life using bunraku-style puppets and scraps of cloth and paper, in a minimalist dreamscape."
http://www.maboumines.org/productions/peter-and-wendy

This show does a few interesting things. First of all, aside from the narrator, the characters are all puppets. Though not unheard of, it is a bit unconventional. Further, the narrator not only tells the story but also provides all the voices for all the characters. This type of single actor work is not overly common either. The use of a white backdrop with no real sets also adds to the unique way this production was conceived and created.