点评:Hotel Wonderland takes you into a different cinematic reality with oozes of style. It’s hard to put into words exactly what Hotel Wonderland is. If I try, I come to use the exact same words that you can find on their official blurb. And somehow that’s not the full story.
I regret that during the show I tried to puzzle together what it was or projecting certain expectations on it. I should’ve left the puzzling elements to delving into the mystery of this world and following each character arc. It’s certainly best to just experience it for what it is, but then again you also need some handholds in terms of what you can do within this dimension they’ve created. In this case we were happy that on a few occasions we received a small nudge from stage manager Gunnar to help us explore different directions we wouldn’t want to miss. I can’t imagine how much training and work must’ve gone into improv and maintaining all the logistics and timings. Beyond that it’s a complex beast full of contradicting wants and needs, and I mean that as a compliment. Many kudos for pulling it off.
Just being in this world and lightly touching all the colourful flair that’s being rained upon the audience by the stellar set design, vivacious sounds and sometimes mesmerizing show was enough to create a memory we’re fond of. There is not one part I believe Hotel Wonderland is best of class, but this is a new blend we’re talking about. The sheer ambition shown here and that they actually got it all to work is simply breath-taking. The level-designs work well too, with big spacious area’s being encountered multiple times, and then having plenty of smaller areas hidden around out-of-sight corners followed by maze-like gates and tunnels. Oh, and did I mention the whole immersive theatre is complimented by excellent food that looks like it belongs too? Smart move to include that with the show!
I thought some things during the 3-hour experience weren’t optimal or missed impact, but even that felt somewhat befitting; because “we were merely passing through”. Sometimes we were just an audience, but in others we became the support, lesson or mirror for these characters entwined in Hotel Wonderland to help them further along their path. The acting could sometimes meet you right in the eye, making you feel present, with actors sometimes literally grasping you into a scene. While other times you could just enjoy the performance from a comfy seating. The one thing I felt didn’t work so well were a few of the interactive installations that weren’t integrated into the story and performance of the Hotel Wonderland inhabitants. These felt side-lined, and not fulfilling their potential. When characters did use their surroundings and décor to the fullest in an explorative and fun choreography it enhanced the set design in those places, making it more magical. I wish those ‘extra’ art installations such as those with headphones included could be integrated in a story arc. Some of these characters have reflection moments, and this might be a good fit for those moments.
Other than that, I felt the music of the jazz band was good for the immediate ending, but stayed too loud for too long. As after the experience there is so much to talk about, but you have to yell in each other’s ear to do so. I would suggest turning it down some notches after the first couple of songs or maybe facilitate two spaces; one for those who want to talk and one for those who want to enjoy the music.
These are small remarks though. Because two days later Hotel Wonderland and it’s charismatic and emotional flair still lingers in the back of my mind giving me small ethereal pops of joy. I’m already looking forward to my return visit and explore other storylines, characters and spaces!
翻译:Hotel Wonderland 带您进入别具一格的电影现实。很难用语言准确描述仙境酒店是什么。如果我尝试,我会使用与您在他们的官方广告中可以找到的完全相同的词。不知何故,这还不是全部。
我很遗憾在演出期间我试图拼凑它是什么或对它投射某些期望。我应该把令人费解的元素留给钻研这个世界的奥秘并跟随每个角色的弧线。最好只体验它的本来面目,但你也需要一些依据,了解你可以在他们创造的这个维度中做什么。在这种情况下,我们很高兴有几次我们收到了舞台经理 Gunnar 的轻微推动,帮助我们探索我们不想错过的不同方向。我无法想象必须进行多少培训和工作才能即兴表演并维持所有后勤和时间安排。除此之外,它还是一头充满矛盾需求的复杂野兽,我的意思是这是一种恭维。将它拉下来的许多荣誉。
只是置身于这个世界,轻轻地触及所有通过一流的布景设计、活泼的声音和有时令人着迷的表演而倾注在观众身上的五颜六色的天赋,就足以创造出我们喜欢的回忆。没有哪一部分我认为仙境酒店是一流的,但这是我们正在谈论的一种新的融合。这里表现出的雄心壮志,以及他们真正做到的一切,简直令人叹为观止。关卡设计也很好,大面积的区域会被多次遇到,然后在看不见的角落周围隐藏着许多较小的区域,然后是迷宫般的大门和隧道。哦,我有没有提到整个沉浸式剧院都被看起来也属于它的美味食物所称赞?将其包含在节目中的明智之举!
我认为在 3 小时的体验中有些事情不是最佳的或错过了影响,但即使这样也感觉有些合适;因为“我们只是路过”。有时我们只是观众,但在其他时候,我们成为这些角色的支持、教训或镜子,这些角色在仙境酒店中交织在一起,帮助他们在他们的道路上走得更远。表演有时会直接与您相遇,让您感到身临其境,演员有时会真正将您带入场景。而其他时候,您可以坐在舒适的座位上欣赏表演。我觉得效果不佳的一件事是一些互动装置没有融入仙境酒店居民的故事和表演。这些感觉被边缘化了,没有发挥他们的潜力。当角色在探索性和有趣的编舞中充分利用他们的环境和装饰时,它增强了这些地方的布景设计,使其更加神奇。我希望那些“额外”的艺术装置,比如那些带有耳机的装置,可以融入故事情节中。其中一些角色有反思的时刻,这可能很适合那些时刻。
除此之外,我觉得爵士乐队的音乐适合立即结束,但声音太大了太久了。因为经历之后有很多话要谈,但你必须在对方耳边大喊大叫才能做到这一点。我建议在前几首歌曲之后将其调低一些,或者可能提供两个空间;一个给那些想聊天的人,一个给那些想享受音乐的人。
不过,这些都是小事。因为两天后,Hotel Wonderland 及其魅力和情感天赋仍然萦绕在我的脑海中,让我感到一丝飘渺的喜悦。我已经很期待回访并探索其他故事情节、角色和空间!