Living in the Dark Experiences

 

Two Off Broadway productions currently explore the absence of a sense - Nina Raine's Tribes playing at Barrow Street Theatre and Paul Weitz's Lonely, I'm Not playing at Second Stage Theatre. In Tribes, we meet hearing impaired Billy forced to live in the shadows of his annoying, dysfunctional family. Billy's world opens up when he meets Sylvia, the daughter of deaf parents, who is now going deaf herself. In Lonely, I'm Not, we meet Heather a blind woman determined to make it in the business world on her own even if she has to work seven days a week to do so. 

Tribes recently won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Foreign Play of the 2011-2012 season. And Lonely, I'm Not has been fetching positive reviews by critics. Two very worthwhile plays about "living in the dark".

For those looking for other unique sensory experiences, Dialog in the Dark in Lower Manhattan and Dark Dining at Camaje in the West Village seem very interesting. In the Dialog in the Dark exhibition, a visually impaired guides takes you on a tour of NY - subway, Times Square and all. According to the website, it will forever change your perception of what it means to be blind or have low vision. And foodies may want to check out Dark Dining. Blindfolded, you let your remaining senses take over as you enjoy dinner and other entertainment at Camaje.