Theaterlab — Attraction in New York

I attended the play The Dutch Masters at this venue on May 24, 2025. So, this review is both for the play and the venue.

First let's talk about the play. Any play involving only two actors are tough. On a stage with multiple actors, the audience has multiple subjects to process. Any imperfection could be hidden among the actors but not with two actors. Having said that, it was an awesome performance by the actors.

The story took place on the D train leaving Rockefeller Center going uptown (in 1992 New York according to the synopsis). Written by Greg Keller and directed by Calvin Atkinson, Isaiah Brown portrayed Eric a tall black young man who had a chance encounter with Steve, a white bookish young man played by Eoghan O'Casey. Eric started a conversation, but Steve appears nervous and uncomfortable. After all, they were in a closed environment and as any New Yorker, unexpected encounter or someone who pushed their way into someone's personal space is always suspect. What does Eric want from him? Steve was extremely nervous thinking he is about to get robbed but was surprised that Eric seems to know a lot about him.

Steve was scared when coerced by Eric to get off the train at 145th Street to buy some marijuana to smoke in a park. They took turn smoking and Steve was clearly getting high. Eric studied a cigar ring apparently on the loaded cigar which he bought. Eric looked at the cigar ring and mumbled Dutch Masters --which for Eric was interpreted as the slave masters but for Steve it was interpreted as the Dutch paint masters (like Vermeer and Rembrandt). It brings up two awkward different worlds for Steve and Eric. Steve still scared followed Eric to his apartment. And here is where the plot thickens.

Without spoiling the plot for others, the ending plot was a surprise and explained how Eric knows so much about Steve.

Both actors performed admirably well. Isaiah Brown was very strong in portraying a young man dealing with inner turmoil and a complicated childhood. Eoghan O'Casey was believable as a nervous white young man. All in all, both actors were excellent. The lighting and sound effects are appreciated with authentic PA announcement as the train pull in and out the stations and the door chime as the door closes. A five stars from me on the play.

As far as the venue, it was a nice, clean, intimate and cozy environment at a prime location. Uniquely white in decor which made the actors and props stand out. It was a little hard having to climb stairs to the third floor with my bad knee, but this is the building fault and not the venue itself. The building apparently is not very well maintained since the elevator was out and the sink in the bathroom has no water. You might say that's a harsh review for a broken elevator but if you look at other plays, as early as Tuesday May 20 to all the way to June 1st, they all have the notation that the elevator is under repair. That's over twelve days of a non-working elevator. The building was either not serious about getting it repaired or lack of care about an important equipment to comply with the Federal ADA rules. While I would give five stars for the venue/studio, the building only deserves a two star.

At the end of the day, a pleasant experience and an excellent...

Theaterlab first visit for BABY, a new revised production of an old musical was fabulous. The place is on the third floor, easy to miss, office building. It seats just about 50 people. This makes it a very intimate experience. You will fill like you are part of the lives your see acted out. We will be on the company's mailing list so we can keep coming back here. Catch BABY! The songs, music, and actors will provide with a most...

This space has a special, quirky vibe: white performance spaces mix with details that make you think you’re at someone’s artsy apartment. The programming is solid, the crowd friendly, and Orietta who is the Artistic Director is a wonderful hostess. Also: the place has a lot of subsidized...