Broadway Access Review -
Patriots
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General Note
This is a review of the accessibility of the theater, of the lighting/sound/scent design of the show, and a list of content warnings as a way to prep folks with various needs before they go see it.
This is not meant to scare anyone away from seeing the show. Most productions have about the same amount of content warnings and sensory warnings to go along with it, they’re just rarely explicitly written down.
For some people, knowing these things ahead of time makes it easier to enjoy the show because they know what to expect. And, often, makes those people more likely to see it in the first place. I hope that it’s helpful!
I am also happy to clarify any specifics, just send me a message or an email and I will respond when I can.
Also please note that I make these while seeing a show for the first time, so I may miss some cues or be slightly off as to their placement/cue line!
Theater
(Ethel Barrymore Theatre)
All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats in the left mezzanine
Bathrooms:
Divided into the binary, though there is a sign saying “Please use the restroom that best fits your gender identity and expression”
located below the orchestra with an accessible one on the orchestra level
Other theater accessibility:
the theater has a step-free entrance to the orchestra
there is no elevator
they offer closed captioning, assistive listening, and audio description on the left orchestra level
Click here for more information on the accessibility of this theater.
Light/Sound/Scent
General:
the orchestra aisles are used by actors at least once
there is a mirror behind the central door, and the top right and left sides of the stage have giant glass/mirrors as well. Also the base of the main set on the stage is mirrored, so that may reflect into the orchestra
the show is structured to have really loud scene changes with either moving projections or flashing lights in between very quiet scenes, with transitions typically lasting 10-15 seconds - I would recommend earplugs in theory, but you would then miss all of the dialogue
the stage has an LED frame around the entire proscenium that changes color, as well as LED bars throughout the set. Also the top half of the stage is generally darker than the bottom half which, from the mezzanine, made the show feel either dim or slightly hazy? I’m not sure what was going on, it may have been the contrast with the red, but my eyes had a very difficult time focusing. I think this would be much better from the orchestra
the sensory experience of this show is very similar to Corruption and semi similar to Appropriate
the night I was there, the theater was super cold
Act I:
moving snowy projection after the door opens
transition after mathematician bit - EDM music, moving red downlights, and flashing LED bars
phones cause accidental strobe
“I promise” - transition, starts with huge crash
when the two start dancing, the back wall lights twinkle
“to save Russia” - small transition
“free the country we love” - loud transition
camera flashes & very loud crescendo when he takes off his lanyard
“to keep Russia great” - loud transition with white camera flashes
“I think you meant to say executor” - bomb transition (big crash, very loud, white flashing lights)
after he refuses to take the chalk - loud crash, sound of falling missiles, and flashing lights
“so lame” - loud noise, blackout
Act II:
haze and loud music in the first scene
“just done” - really loud transition that starts with a crack, then EDM music and flashing projections, ~35 sec
“bad decision” - loud transition, water projections, and dim flashing from the top right box
“left the country” - quieter transition with dim white strobes
~35 sec of camera flashes after the masks come out
“I’d like to thank–” - smoke and very loud helicopter noises with white moving lights (like a helicopter)
“makes him nobody” - helicopter returns
“if you insist” - quieter transition with flashing semi-pixelated lights, there are like 4-5 of these in a row
“this is my life now” - transition, gets loud
“history” - big boom
camera flashes during scene change after judge scene
loud boom & even louder crescendo when Putin gets to the doorway
Content Warnings
antisemitism
murder/execution/”suicide”