Soundstage

See it if you want to be immersed in the interaction of the technically superior muse and the searching character who is well played by the actor.

Don't see it if multi-media, including a roving camera and projection crew, sometimes with loud television static, and live:screen interaction are not 4 you

See it if you enjoy the experimental work. An enormous effort has gone into creating the multimedia effects.

Don't see it if you want to see a play. There is a suggestion of characters & plot but mostly you will have to create interpretations of what you are seeing

See it if Gay man reveres female screen image via his immersion into TV/Film w/ live strings and vocals. Technical feats of blended media(+wig forms).

Don't see it if One-hour solo show. Female siren, actor Rebecca Hall, upstages (but doesn't appear onstage) and is truly larger-than-life.Don't sit in front

See it if You want to see a really neat set and staging.

Don't see it if You get immediately tired when you go into a dark room and someone sings weird music.

See it if You like watching old versions of film noir. The clips were interesting as was his interaction with them.

Don't see it if The subject matter of dark femme fatale stuff does not interest you. Also drug abuse on screen, and fake cigarettes are very present here.

See it if you appreciate sophisticated layering of media: video, music, dance, solo performance though technology tends to overshadow human elements

Don't see it if you hope to glean coherent narrative or structure--you have to go with the flow of imagery, which is sometimes clever, sometimes cliche

Also The piece lacks an emotional arc: it works through accretion of images that--while technically accomplished and at times ingeniously deployed--often remain opaque. The talented dancers serve as butoh-style camera operators and bunraku stagehands, but their presence adds little and is overshadowed by the large video screens. Similarly, the live musicians are largely hidden from view as the technology takes over. The clever use of live video and evocation of muse Rebecca Hall are intermittently effective, but the human element takes a back seat and Roth finally makes little connection with the audience--probably not his priority; nonetheless, it makes for a chilly evening.... Read more Read less

See it if You like weird experimental theater

Don't see it if You want to be entertained

See it if you enjoy experimental pieces that fully take advantage of their deployed technology

Don't see it if you dislike multi-media heavy pieces or require an over-arching "message" to latch on to.

Also Soundstage is a fascinating examination of inner turmoil, depression, obsession, and ritual. So much ritual. The use of a fully operational camera rig and the projection mapping visible throughout the show are nothing short of stunning. A truly original piece.

However, it still feels like it's missing a core component. Something to make the whole thing lock into place.... Read more Read less

See it if ... The woman's acting in the film is actually not that bad but it just seems pointless, the 2ndhand smoke smells bad and it was suffocating

Don't see it if You have something better to do. The content is not healthy, and it really doesn't make sense to have ninjas wondering around...

See it if You love theatrical cinematography, stunning imagery, flawless details and bravery. What if this was the only place you could see yourself?

Don't see it if If you hate the abstract, or the art more than the dialogue. Dislike Ingmar Bergman, Picasso, Sunset Boulevard, Noir, Pan's Labyrinth.

Also I don't pretend to grasp a every nuance, but I was greatfully and humbly along for this magnificent blend of art forms, atmosphere, details and masterful performances by all involved.

Quite the deep, dark and exquisitely beautiful ride. It wasn't that long ago when people had to search for a reflection...

If you want a standard play, this may not be your thing, but if you can think, feel and relate in the abstract or love performance, music, dance and imagery in deep and haunting themes, this is for you.

The set pieces, staging and details are flawless. The veil on the musicians and dancers, the appearance of a camera shot through a mirror followed by an image in a mirror, the wigheads, precise and measured movement, scenes that look like incredible photographic stills, the synching and the blurring of lines and merges between the two leads-- so exquisite!

I hope more people will open themselves to this kind of show. Rob
Roth and the HARP (at HERE) have a new and devoted fan.... Read more Read less

See it if want to see a technically clever and intricate performance dealing with gender issues.

Don't see it if If you only enjoy traditional theater.

See it if The multimedia effects are amazing and demonstrate an incredible new way to tell a story. Sadly, the play had no story to tell. Frustrating

Don't see it if A gay man in semi-drag, shuffling around, doing drugs and dreaming about his favorite screen diva does not sound like fun to you.

See it if You enjoy multimedia productions. Clever use of it & introspective storyline . ...And if you love Rebecca Hall! Was mesmerized by her.

Don't see it if You don’t enjoy slow and Depressive storylines. Drug addiction, decaying starlight, etc...

See it if You like performance art done using newer technology, spliced w/multiple mediums simultaneously to indirectly convey deep msg/feeling

Don't see it if You don't like edgy performance art

See it if you are a fan of multimedia-infused theater. Also, if the name "David Lynch" gets you excited.

Don't see it if you don't appreciate nonlinear narratives and poetic approach to narration

Also MInd: blown. One of the most meticulous, magical productions that I have seen in years - not just downtown but anywhere. Rob Roth's poetic writing might be a tad hard to follow at times, but hey - it IS a poem, you don't have to get the literal meaning, you just have to grasp the mood. The fusion of dance, music, theater, and film is so flawless that it comes across as nothing short of magical. I would actually see it again to focus more on little details that just flew right in the corner of my eye; pretty sure this one gets even more rewarding on the second viewing. I think David Lynch would love this one and probably would get a little jealous. I loved it. GO.... Read more Read less

See it if you are a fan of avant-garde theater. This is a dreamlike exploration of loneliness, nostalgia, and obsession told through song and cinema.

Don't see it if you don't enjoy experimental art, or are not interested in stories told through a queer gaze. Also note that smoking & drug use is depicted.

See it if you like multi-media stage poetry

Don't see it if you don't like experimental stuff

See it if You want to witness a phenomenal feast for the senses and support HERE Arts.

Don't see it if You have a closed mind.

Also Rob Roth is the real thing. A true artist working in mix media through the lens of the Queer experience. This 60 minute meditation on fantasy, loneliness, cinema, music, dance & perceptions on gender, is phenomenal. It feels like a lucid dream. From the moment you enter the space through the buzzing flickering neon light above a “Sound Stage” door you are transported into the world of SOUNDSTAGE. There is not a traditional narrative, but what it accomplishes is mood. Teetering between tragedy & glamour, the team of a live cinematographer, dancers & musicians accompanied by the captivating Rebecca Hall on screen next to and with Rob Roth, creates what I can only describe as theatre in its purest form. This is art. This is what it looks like to jump into and fully commit to an idea. It is precise and stunning. I. Was. Transfixed. And LOVED every minute of it. Bravo!!!!... Read more Read less

See it if you appreciate masterfully executed video/sound integration, smart direction & avant garde experimentation blending film & live theater.

Don't see it if you want a clear, absorbing story and a sense of pace.

Also While I appreciated the innovative work that went into creating this seamlessly technical piece of performance art, I felt the show, protagonist, and story didn't draw me in - but rather pushed me away.... Read more Read less

See it if you like technically ambitious solo shows, a lovely performer interacting with multichannel (live & prerecorded) video, a musing on muses

Don't see it if you want a clear narrative arc or a traditional 'play' rather than a one-man piece

Also Rebecca Hall is luminous in the prepared film sections, and the onstage projections and live camera interactions are fascinating and extremely cleverly done. Wish there had been deeper reveals from the mirroring with the lead performer, who is versatile and magnetic but remains rather opaque through the show. But it's a flawlessly-executed piece.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy the interplay of live performance with film/technology, unconventional storytelling, and performances that explore queer identity.

Don't see it if You prefer straight forward narratives or can’t abide the smell of fake cigarette smoke.

See it if you're looking to discover something through the stories and experiences of others. Very artistic approach on discussing loneliness

Don't see it if you're looking for an easy entertaining show, this piece definitely requires some thoughtful thinking and full attention.