Sleep No More - The Creative Adventurer

‘Sleep No More’ Explained: A Complete Guide to the Story, Characters & Plotlines [2022 UPDATED]

The Creative Adventurer — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 20:05:01 +0000

If you are here because you are looking for additional information on the goings-on behind the doors of the McKittrick Hotel during ‘Sleep No More,‘ you’ve come to the right place. I wanted to write this post to give those curious minds a little more insight into the plot and storylines throughout the show and a detailed account of my experiences. It really is best to go into the show without too many spoilers, so if you’re planning on attending, I will stick with my spoiler-free guide. But if you are looking for insights into what others saw or won’t be able to attend and are interested in learning more about the experience then read on!

Sleep No More Guide

Character Inspirations
Scene-by-Scene Guide
The Elusive 6th Floor
Gallows Green Rooftop Bar
TIPS:

Character Inspirations

In the show program, it lists a relationship diagram between each of the characters. They are separated into various categories; the Court (which includes all the Macbeth characters), the King James Sanitorium (which are Nurse Shaw, Matron Long, and the Orderly), the Townspeople of Gallows Green (which include Mr. Bargarran and Mr. Futon) and finally the members of the McKittrick Hotel (Catherine Campbell, The Porter and the Bell Hop)

Macbeth Characters

All the Macbeth characters are a little easier to put together. If you’ve never seen or read Macbeth, this little synopsis will help you out in understanding the scenes you might glimpse in on throughout the show. Macbeth is a general in the army of King Duncan, the King of Scotland. One night he is visited by three witches who prophesize that he will become King of Scotland.

Malcome and Lady Macbeth

King Duncan announces that his elder son Malcolm will become the new King after his death. Until that time he instructs Macbeth to care and guide him. When King Duncan comes to visit Macbeth’s manors, Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to carry out the prophecy and kill Duncan. Macbeth carries out the deed even though he is pained to do so. Malcolm flees in fear of his own life, only to be suspected of the killing, therefore allowing Macbeth to inherit the throne.

Banquo & MacDuff

Banquo, Macbeth’s best friend and a general in King’s army, was privy to the meeting with the witches and suspects Macbeth. Macbeth has Banquo murdered, but his sons escape. Macbeth is visited by the ghost of Banquo, who haunts him. He meets with the witches once more who warn him that MacDuff, another nobleman in the army, is a danger to Macbeth. And he is convinced he must kill MacDuff. Macbeth has MacDuff’s family murdered and his property sized, but MacDuff himself escapes. The heir to the throne, Malcolm, returns to take back the kingdom against the murderer Macbeth.

Meanwhile, Lady Macbeth is slowly going insane, haunted by the ghosts of her actions. The doctors tell Macbeth she cannot be cured. MacDuff confronts Macbeth and kills him, bringing his head to Malcolm, who hails himself King of Scotland.

Wikimedia

Rebecca Characters

When the show first started, there were various characters named after characters from the Hitchcock film ‘Rebecca‘. Perhaps for legal reasons, these names had to be changed when the show moved to New York. The second Mrs. De Winter is now Agnes Naismith, and her storyline is a bit different. Mrs. Danvers is now called Catherine Campbell. These names were chosen from the real people who were accused of being witches in the Paisley Witch trials of 1697. Nurse Christian Shaw shares the same name as the eleven-year-old Christian Shaw, the daughter of the Laird of Bargarran, who was the accuser and responsible for seven people’s deaths during the trials.

Mr. Bargarran can also be found in the show, he works as the taxidermist in Gallow Green. We also meet Mr. Fulton. Margaret Fulton was one of the accused and murdered women from the Paisley witch trials and Mr. Fulton is her husband. In the Show, Mr. Fulton is the resident tailor and the cunning man of Gallow Green. A cunning man was a traditional name for the original practitioners of folk medicine. They were thought to be good witches, and Mr. Fulton is working actively against the evil witch Hecate.

Scene-by-Scene Guide

I had done my best to list the scenes in chronological order, although some of them happen at the same time, although on different levels of the building. Seeing the entire show in order is practically impossible without visiting multiple times so reading this little play-by-play is a great way to put together anything you missed. Remember, even if you saw it all, the show isn’t meant to be a linear narrative with a perfectly easy to comprehend plot. It’s more like art, open for interpretation and personal reflection. That being said, a little context never hurt anything!

Banquo Praying

To being the show, Banquo can be found praying at the chapel on the 1st floor, where he sits near a large statue of the Madonna. Banquo, along with Macbeth, have just returned from a successful war for King Duncan. Banquo is thanking the gods for his safe return as he is a pious man. Eventually, Macbeth comes to greet Banquo inside the chapel. The two embrace as best friends (which makes Macbeth’s eventual betrayal and murder of Banquo all the more powerful). The two leave together for the lobby, where they enjoy a few drinks.

The Three Witches

The three witches enter the lobby to give Macbeth the all-powerful prophecy. The three witches go by the names; the sexy witch, the boy witch and the bald witch. The sexy witch wears a low-cut, teal dress. The boy witch can be found wearing a smart-fitting 1930s-style suit and heavy eyeliner—finally, the bald witch actually won’t appear bald until later in the show, she is pretty clearly wearing a wig. The “bald witch” is another reference to the 1697 Paisley witch trials. One accused witch, Agnes Sampson, was brought before the King for her supposed crimes. He had her entire body shaved as punishment before she was tortured and finally burned at the stake.

The three witches have to chase Macbeth around the lobby for a bit until he finally resigns to reading the prophecy. Banquo sees this all occur, and when Macbeth is finished reading the prophecy, Macbeth runs upstairs to find his wife. Banquo on the other hand seems a bit disturbed by what he saw and hides away inside a luggage storage room where he performs a dance across the scaffolding.

Lady and Lord Macbeth Discuss the Prophecy

At the start of the show, you can find Lady Macbeth up in her bedroom, undressed, sitting on the rim of the bathtub. All over the floor are scattered notes from Macbeth. Feel free to go and pick them up to read. The letters detail the witches’ prophecy. As Lady Macbeth sits on the tub, she seems to contemplate the idea that the prophecy details. The idea of Macbeth killing King Duncan to become King himself.

One of the most beautiful parts of this scene is when Lady Macbeth climbs into the nearby dresser, where she disappears and then reappears inside a glass box on the other side. In there, she performs a hauntingly beautiful dance for the onlookers outside. Eventually, Lady Macbeth gets out of the glass box, now dressed in a silk black nightgown. She dances furiously across the room, on top of the furniture, throwing herself around as if possessed. It is impressive to watch as it feels as dangerous as it is sensual.

Macbeth’s Dance

Macbeth eventually enters as well as the two dance together. As they dance, she begins to press him on Duncan’s murder, and the once romantic dance becomes an aggressive battle. By the end of the dance, it seems as if Lady Macbeth has convinced Macbeth to do the deed, and he walks out of the room in a daze.

Agnes Naismith Checks into the Hotel Lobby

The second-floor lobby is occupied by Agnes Naismith (previously the Mrs. De Winters) and Catherine Campbell (previously Mrs. Danvers) at the beginning of the show. The two of them don’t get along, so lookout for a confrontation. Agnes Naismith will sign into the hotel’s registry with her full name so keep an eye out for that to recognize her. She has come to town in search of her missing sister. Although she might have been named Mrs. De Winters from the film ‘Rebecca‘ her storyline is much more similar to that of Lila in the film ‘Psycho‘ who is also on a search for her sister. The Porter will reveal a secret key to Agnes Naismith. This key opens a locked door on the 4th floor of Gallow Green. Follow her to see what she finds up there.

Malcolm’s Detective Office

Malcolm, who is King Duncan‘s son, is mainly held up in his Detective’s office on the 4th floor in Gallow Green. The office is called “Mac Crinain & Reid Agency.” Mac Crinain was the King of Scotland in 1034 and was the King who served as the inspiration for Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. The name “Reid” comes from the Paisley witch trials as John Reid was one of the accused.

Malcolm’s Detective agency office is a frenzied room covered floor to ceiling in papers and evidence. There are filing cabinets on every wall, piled up with documents as well as an abundance of stuffed birds. Malcolm is seemingly obsessed with studying dead birds. In the play Macbeth, Macbeth is compared to the “evil bird, the owl, the creepy evil animal that always stares at you”. Perhaps Malcolm’s obsession with birds is his desire to discover the true nature of Macbeth.

Agnes Naismith

In the back of the agency is a dark room filled with photographs of murder victims hanging on a line. Malcolm is not only trying to solve the plot of who murdered his father but he is also obsessed with the mystery of Agnes Naismith‘s missing sister Grace. Being located on the 4th floor, Malcolm is in the presence of the sorceress Hecate. Throughout the performance he is manically trying to solve the question of why these mysterious things are happening in Gallow Green.

Hecate’s Spell

Hecate is the all-powerful witch who manipulates Macbeth into his crimes and is perhaps the catalyst for the show’s entire events. She is one of the only characters to wear a bright piece of clothing, a long blood-red silk dress sometimes covered in feathers (another nod to the birds’ theme). Her only goal is to see that Macbeth fulfills his destiny and kills King Duncan. But she also responsible for the darkness which haunts the 4th floor and the town of Gallow Green. At the start of the loop, Hecate struts through the streets of Gallow Green, seemingly resetting each of the characters to the beginning of their loop, under her complete control.

The Jealousy Dance

Before the ball, Lord and Lady Macduff return to their apartments. Their velvet-laced apartments on the 3rd floor are covered in talismans, charms and objects of devotion. Lady Macduff is an extremely superstitious person and is fearful of impending doom to her family. It seems to prevent her greatest fears from coming true she has placed these objects all over, almost in an obsessive fashion.

Lady Macduff’s Jealousy

Lady Macduff is furious with her husband for his wandering eye and feels less than wanted in her pregnant state. The two of them dance on top of the stacked shelves and dressers inside their room. They dance all over the rooms, jumping over couches and tumbling on the ground. Fighting, making up, arguing and in the end, proving how much they adore each other (although Macduff continues to love others just the same.)

The Ballroom Banquet

Lady Macbeth decides to host a ball in honour of King Duncan’s success war. Almost the entire cast gathers in the basement ballroom for this event. Lady Macbeth steps out onto the dance floor, where she is greeted by three menacing-looking people. These are the three witches. Macbeth, dressed in a smart-looking suit, stands on the mezzanine above the dancefloor, looking down at the guests below. The guests dance and mingle with each other. Jazz music from the 1930s plays throughout the room, featuring songs like ‘Tuxedo Junction‘ by Glenn Miller and ‘Sandman‘ by Benny Goodman.

Catherine Campbell

If you find Lord Macduff, you may notice him flirting with various women on the dance floor, save for his heavily pregnant wife, Lady Macduff, who looks on in abject dishonour. His favourite dalliance is surely the sexy witch. Lady Macduff watches from the sidelines and is served a glass of milk by one of the attendants. This is Catherine Campbell, the cruel head housekeeper at McKittrick Hotel. Unbeknownst to Lady Macduff, the drink was poisoned, but she pushes it away. Catherine Campbell is under the thrall of Hecate, and she does her bidding. Tampering with milk was a common practice that many people thought witches would undertake to poison the faithful. So it is not surprising to hear how much-poisoned milk is used by Catherine throughout the show considering her name is taken from an accused witch in the Paisley witch trials.

The Bald Witch Transformation

After the banquet is over and the dancers begin to retire and leave the room, but one person stays behind – the bald witch. Although right now, she still has her wig on. During this hauntingly beautiful scene, the witch dances alone in the spotlight, almost as if by the light of the moon. She is one of the show’s best dancers, doing a plier and dancing almost on point. At the end of the dance, she reveals her bald head. She tosses the wig off to the side, perhaps as a gesture to indicate the beginning of the real evil of the show about to begin. True selves will be revealed…

Graveyard

After Macbeth returns from the ball, he heads to his room to change his clothes and then heads to the nearby graveyard. There, he prays in front of a large statue, resembling the Virgin Mary. He seems to plead with it as if trying to make up his mind whether to kill Duncan or not.

Hecate’s Cabaret

If you are standing in the street in Gallow’s Green, you might catch Hecate running full tilt around the corner. If you follow Hecate from the road, she will lead you to the ruins of the Manderley bar, her personal cabaret. When she arrives, she sits down at the small table off to the side of the room. In the film Rebecca, the Manderley mansion’s first appearance is in its current, burned formed. Only when we flash to the past do we see it as it once was, in its full glory. In the McKittrick hotel, Hecate’s ruined Manderley Bar is perhaps a foreshadowing of her impending doom that she will bring to the Manderley, the McKittrick and all those within should her plan of murder come to fruition.

Is that all there is

Sitting on the table is a large silver dinner tray, which she opens to reveal what appears to be a raw human heart inside. She begins to eat the pieces of the heart as uneasy music plays throughout the room. As she puts the last piece in her mouth, she chews it and spits out a plain gold wedding band hidden inside the heart. She will gesture toward someone from the audience and put the ring in their hands. Then she proceeds to walk onto the stage.

The music changes, and the song “Is that all there is” plays on the loudspeaker. A male’s voice half recites, half sings the song as Hecate mouths along to the words. When she steps off the stage, tears are flowing down her cheeks. She slowly walks towards the door where we entered but stops and turns just before leaving. This is when she will reach out to an audience member and take their hand.

Hecate’s 1:1

I was lucky enough to be blessed with this 1:1 experience. As quickly as I touched her hand, she whisked me off into the darkness, spinning around from corner to corner until we reached a locked door. It was honestly a full-speed sprint! Before entering, she whispered to me, “Do you trust me?” I nodded, and we were thrust inside. She drew a key from her pocket and locked the door behind us, away from the rest of the audience and suddenly it was just her and me. And then, most unexpectedly, she tore off my mask!

The room we were now sitting in was dimly light with candles, but I could still make up most of what was around me. It looked like a fortune teller’s den. The ceiling was covered in antique umbrellas, teacups and ancient herbs. She came towards me and whispered in my ear: “I’ve been waiting for you to come. I was starting to wonder if you were ever going to get here.” She led me over to a plush velvet couch and sat me down. She sat down opposite me in a large armchair, which felt more than just lived in. Like she had been sitting in the same spot for hundreds of years.

The Storm…

On the table between us was a tea set and with two china cups. She grabbed my hands in her and began tracing her fingers over my palms like she would read my fortune. Then she started recounting to me a story of a couple who took a voyage across the sea. As she spoke, she took the teacup from the table and placed it in my hands. She began to pour the water into my cup.

It was a terrible storm,” she said. “They say that devils were seen swarming on the mast, and that’s why the ship sank.” As she spoke she dropped a little paper boat into the water. She spoke of demons that dragged the ship down to the depth. As soon as the boat touched the liquid, the water turned red. She began shaking my hands with the cup still clutched around my fingers. The water spilled all over me. The music was swelling all around the room to match the urgency and danger of the story. “But we know that’s not what happened.” And then, all of a sudden, the room went pitch black.

The Rain

She pulled me from my seat and, even in the utter darkness, lead me over to another part of the room, she was yelling something, but I couldn’t hear her as wind and rain were pouring down on me. REAL RAIN! She whispered one last thing in my ear, although I could not make it out, and placed my mask back on my face. Then, in a second, she pushed me out a door into another room and slammed the door behind me. In my hand, I was still holding the soggy boat. I tried to reopen the door I had just come through, but it was locked.

Hecate’s Apothecary

I was standing in what appeared to be an apothecary with hundreds of dried herbs hanging from the ceiling and little vials all over the room. There was a couple of audience members in the room already staring at me in utter disbelief as they had no idea where I had come from. Once I left the show and took off my mask, I noticed a kiss mark on my mask, which she had left me with, perhaps marking me for the rest of the evening.

In case you’re curious, the story of the shipwreck is a historical one that left a dark mark on the world and inspired parts of Shakespear’s work. King James VI was engaged to Anne of Denmark, and when he sailed to bring her back home with him, their royal fleet was battered by storms, almost causing the couple to be lost at sea. And one of their vessels was lost to the great seas. It was most likely the impatient newlyweds who were responsible for sailing during such turbulent seas but King James laid all the blame of this storm on witches. His accusations lead to the beginning of the first Scottish witch trials, and over the years the different witch trials in Scotland lead to the deaths of over 400 people.

The Witch Rave

One of the most talked-about scenes from the production has got to be the Witches Rave. If you are on the 4th floor and hear techno music, head towards it as you won’t want to miss it. I was off doing something else while this was going on, so sadly, I missed it, but my friend’s account definitely was so entertaining to listen to even after the fact. That’s part of the fun of Sleep No More, piecing together the story.

In the same run-down Manderley Bar on the 4th floor, Hecate walks in and begins to laugh as coloured lights and deep bass music begin to erupt throughout the room. The other witches join her in the room, and they all start to dance with abandon. The two female witches tear the clothes of the one male witch and he retreats behind the bar as strobe lights flash above. Suddenly a demon with a goat head and a human body emerge from behind the bar. He is completely naked and covered in blood.

The Sacrifice

Macbeth suddenly walks in and begins to kiss the demon. The demon brings forth a baby (a toy baby, don’t worry) covered in blood and brings it towards Macbeth. This is a reference to the line in the play, where a bloody child appears to Macbeth and says, “Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn / The power of man, for none of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth.” Overcome with emotion, Macbeth flees the room while the deranged orgy continues without him.

The witch who had placed the goat head on their face removes it and flees from the room shortly after Macbeth. He will lead you throughout the halls into the bathroom, where the shower runs if you follow him. There he changes out of his clothes and collapses in the shower in a fit of tears as he tries to scrub the blood from himself. He will look to you, if you have followed, for help. Those kind enough to offer him some sympathy will get to help him on his continued journey to the final banquet scene.

Lady Macduff’s Warning

Back downstairs in the Macduff apartments, Lady Macduff is becoming more and more afraid. She is panicking for the life of her unborn child as if this dark omen is about to come true. Lady Macduff climbs up a tall bookshelf onto an altar near the ceiling. She walks into her child’s bedroom to comfort herself with a small teddy bear. Inside it, she finds a bone that has been sewn into the fabric. She looks horrified to find this. She grabs her suitcase and runs up to the 4th floor to find Mr. Bargarran, the taxidermist. As he is one who studies bones, perhaps he has a clue into what this means? He gives her a note, indicating that she is in danger. At this moment, a bell sounds; elsewhere in the hotel, King Duncan has been murdered.

Poisoned Milk

Lady Macduff heads downstairs with her suitcase and pleads with the Porter. Perhaps she trying to escape Macbeth, but the Porter cannot help her. Distraught, she sits down in the hotel dining room. The tables are flanked by a wall covered in piled salt with a fork and knife crossed floating above them. At the back of the room is one of Mr. Barragan’s taxidermied goats standing on top of an additional pile of salt. Salt is known to be a protective device against evil so perhaps Lady Macduff feels safe here.

Lady Macduff sits at a table as Catherine Campbell approaches and pours her a glass of her poisoned milk. Just as Macduff brings the glass to her mouth Campbell grabs it from her. The two begin to dance to ‘Temptation‘ from the ‘Psycho‘ soundtrack. At the song’s finale, Mrs. Campbell finally gives the milk to Lady Macduff by letting it drip down her arm into her mouth. As Lady Macduff writhes in pain, Mrs. Campbell goes up to their apartment and dances around gleefully at their impending misfortune.

The Murder of King Duncan

Banquo heads to King Duncan‘s bedroom to find Duncan murdered hidden under a pile of ripped pillows. Banquo screams and picks up a nearby bell to ring to call people to arms. Malcolm and Lord Macduff come to the sound of his screams, and they all grieve at the sight of his body. They each help pick up Duncan’s body and carry him through the crowd and over to Duncan’s chapel. They lay him to rest and wrap in him a funeral cloth. After laying King Duncan to rest, Banquo, Malcolm and MacDuff begin to argue, accusing each other of killing Duncan. Malcolm flees the scene, and Banquo and Macduff head upstairs to the Speakeasy.

Speakeasy Card Game

Following the boys upstairs to the 4th floor we find them heading inside a cardboard-covered speakeasy. A card game is in progress with Malcolm, Banquo and Macduff all playing against each other. They continue to play the strange game on a loop until Macbeth enters. After Malcolm leaves the card game, he heads back to his Detective agency.

Malcolm and MacDuff flee at the sight of the blood-soaked Macbeth. Banquo stands to face his once loyal friend. The two begin a great physical fight and interpretive dance along the walls and onto the nearby pool table. Finally, Macbeth tosses Banquo over the bar where he is out of sight and picks up a brick. Macbeth proceeds to bludgeon him to death behind the bar, the horrific sounds of the murder being pipped through the room. If you go to find Banquo’s body, you will find he has disappeared. Banquo’s ghost can be found walking out in the street of Gallow’s Green and, for the first time, he will recognize the audience members, as Banquo is now a ghost, just like us.

Grace’s Room

With her newly discovered key, Agnes Naismith heads upstairs and opens a locked bedroom in Gallow Green. Inside are various things monogrammed with the letter “G” as this is her sister Grace’s old room. Agnes Naismith will mourn inside this room as well as search it for clues. If you find her in here, she might take you for a one-on-one through the Narnia-like closet in the bedroom, which leads you into a secret passageway.

Lady Macbeth’s Sleepwalking Dance

When Macbeth leaves the apartment to kill Duncan, Lady Macbeth appears to go into a fit. She dances like a spider up and over the bedroom furniture like she is possessed by some supernatural being. ‘The Window‘ and ‘The Package‘ from ‘Psycho’ play in the background all throughout the scene.

Macbeth returns from killing Duncan covered in blood. Lady Macbeth baths him like a child in the bathtub in the center of the room. Once he is clean, they head to the bed together and cuddle like children until Macbeth rises once more. Almost robotically, he gets up and walks into the garden. Lady Macbeth is left alone and tries manically to wash the blood from her hands. This is their interpretation of the famous sleepwalking scene where she cries, “Out, damned spot! out, I say!” But instead of words, modern interpretive dance conveys the sheer terror she feels as the waves of guilt crash over her for what they have done.

The Chase in Gallows Green

She then leaves the room and wanders the 4th floor, ranting and raving as she slowly goes mad. Macbeth exits the Speakeasy as she walks the street, after murdering Banquo. He sees his wife in the street. He kisses her passionately, and they take turns laughing and crying in a deranged fashion.

The two retreat back to their bedroom where Macbeth helps Lady Macbeth into her ballgown and the two of them head downstairs to the Ballroom for the finale scene.

The Last Banquet

This final visit to the Ballroom features most of the characters from the ball at the start of the show but everyone seems decidedly changed. Instead of the joyous dancing, we saw earlier, the atmosphere is a hauntingly bleak affair. A long banqueting table sits on the raised platform and each of the characters enters to sit in their designated seat. As they gather, they moved in slow motions, gesturing to each other in a vignette that resembles the last supper.

Birnam Woods

The dance floor across from the table, which was previous filled with people, is now filled with trees. Each of the trees seem to move on their own, almost dancing. In the play, Macbeth sees Malcolm’s soldiers approaching through Birnam Woods. Each soldier holds a branch in front of their body, which makes it appear to Macbeth as though the forest is moving, as if possessed. This drives him even further into his madness.

The murdered Banquo enters the room, covered in blood and points accusingly towards Macbeth. Lady and Macbeth sit on either end of the table. They blow, what feels like one final kiss to one and the other. Suddenly the blue lights in the room turns green, and all eyes turn accusatorily towards Macbeth.

The banquet ends with each of the guests dispersing in different directions on the first and second loop. But in the finale, we see a very different ending. More on that later…

The Murder of Lady Macduff

After the final banquet, Lady Macduff retreats in fear to the hotel’s lobby, pleading with the Porter, arms full of suitcases and belongings. This is the moment when she is set to flee in fear of Macbeth. The Porter one last time refuses her. She slinks away to the corner of the room near the telephones where she rifles through some drawers until Lady Macduff finds a baby blanket that she cradles in her arms, almost as if she knows Macbeth has already reached her family and killed them.

When she looks in the mirror, see for the first time see the reflection of the masked audience reflected back at her. She acknowledges our presence and in this moment goes into a fit of madness. As she scream, she doesn’t notice Macbeth entering the room. He comes up behind her, and proceeds to beat her to death in front of us. She cries out for help, but the dead is done, and her body is left lifeless in the lobby.

Death Rattle

Many people at this point chased after Macbeth but I stayed with her. Her death scene was so shockingly brutal that I was left in total horror, even if a part of me knew what I had seen wasn’t real. I didn’t even know what I was doing when I knelt down beside her to see if there were any signs of life. I had followed her throughout many points of the show and really grown fond of her. At this point, her husband, Lord Macduff, ran in to find his dead wife on the ground. He screamed and knelt down to cradle her body in his arm and sobbed without abandon.

After a moment, he turned to look at me, and the two of us helped move her to the couch. He placed her head on my lap as he wept on the floor. This was the most intimate and moving moment of the show, and I’m not ashamed to say I shed a few tears myself.

St. James Sanitorium

After the banquet (on the 1st and 2nd loop) Nurse Shaw will lead the now almost catatonic Lady Macbeth to the 5th floor and place her back inside St. James Sanitorium. She brings her into the rooms with all the tubs and removes Lady Macbeth’s blood-soaked ball gown. Nurse Shaw tries to wash off all the blood in the bath but Lady Macbeth still seems horrified to see the blood still on her hands. She thrashes around in the tub, splashing water all over the place, onto your feet if you are too close and all over the floor. If you want to console her, Lady Macbeth will take your hand as a gesture of kindness. After calming down, Lady Macbeth gets up to wander back down to her bedroom on the third floor, where her loop will begin once more.

The Finale

Macbeth stands on the table as a noose is lowered down and placed on his head, almost like a crown. Macbeth seems to have one moment of clarity as the noose is tightened around his neck and cries out “No!” before Malcolm pushes the chair out from beneath him. The lights go dark, and the only sound is the deafening crack of the noose crushing his neck. When the lights return, Macbeth’s lifeless body is seen hanging from the rafters, unmoving, bringing an end to his terror.

The Elusive 6th Floor

I was fortunate during my performance to visit the elusive 6th floor. I didn’t know until after the show what an amazingly lucky experience this was. Wandering around the 5th floor during the show’s final half-hour (although I didn’t know that at the time) I noticed one of the nurses sitting on the floor, beside a suitcase, close to the corner of the staircase. She looked like she had been crying, so I went right up to her and knelt down to look at her right at eye level as if to get a hint to what was making her so sad.

As soon as she noticed me, we locked eyes, and it was the most intense eye contact. In a flash, she grabbed my hand and started to run towards the stairs. A few other people saw what was going on and began to run with us. When we got to the stairs to the 6th floor, the black mask (one of the show’s ushers) who had been blocking the entrance the entire time moved aside and let us by. When the group of audience members running behind us tried to get by as well, he stopped them. So it was just the nurse and myself walking up the stairs. We got up to the top floor, and she closed the door behind us. And in a moment my heart just stopped.

I dreamt I went to Manderley again

We were standing in this HUGE empty room. She took off my mask and got so close to my face. I thought she might kiss me. She whispered gently in my ear, “I can’t believe you’re here. You look like you always did.” The lights all went out, and when they came back on, the nurse was standing on the very opposite end of the room in a different outfit, standing in front of an antique wicker wheelchair. She pushed it towards me and gestured to me to sit down. I was literally shaking but didn’t want to disobey. I sat down in the chair, and she began to push me into another room. Suddenly I heard a loud voice above me, “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again…”

The Wheelchair Diorama

The thin hallway she was pushing me through was illuminated with red lights. I thought I felt funny, but then I realized that the wheelchair was lowering down into a flatbed. Just as soon as I was being pushed in a wheelchair I was being pushed in a rolling bed! My eyes were now staring right up at the ceiling. I started to panic a bit, but the nurse gently put her arm on my shoulder to tell me I would be ok. Instinctively I trusted her and didn’t fight anymore. I honestly thought I was on drugs. It was so surreal.

The ceiling was covered in an upside-down diorama. The first part was a thicket of trees, and then we approached this gorgeous mansion on fire. I would smell and hear the crackle of the fire. As we approached the end of the hallways, the nurse whispered in my ear, “You can never return to Manderley again, but sometimes, in my dreams, I return to those strange days.” And then the lights went black.

The Slow Decent back to Reality

When the lights came back on I was alone in a small room, with an open door. When it went through and closed it behind me, it was locked, and I had no other choice but to walk back down the stairs where a black mask ushered me back onto the 5th floor. I was utterly shocked. It honestly took me a minute to stop feeling lightheaded. The 5th floor was empty, so I wandered back downstairs to see everyone gathered in the Ballroom for what was the very last scene (which again, I had no idea was the final scene).

Instead of watching from the balcony, I took a seat in the hotel lobby to catch my breath. I listened to the music playing in the other room. When the crescendo finished, the entire group of audience members filtered out and were lead back into the Manderley Bar by a few of the actors. It was only then that the realization that the show was done washed over me. And I had missed the finale! But I had gained such a fantastic and unique experience. I found my friend who I had attended the show with and she was shocked and in disbelief of what had happened. We glamoured to get out and grab a drink so we could discuss everything that had just happened to each other.

Gallows Green Rooftop Bar

We headed up to the Gallows Green rooftop bar for a few drinks. She told me all about the final preformance in the Ballroom and regaled me with stories of what she had experienced (which I had never even caught a glimpse of!) It was honestly just as a fun talking to each other about our experiences as it was to have really experienced them! I think that is one of the real joys of the show. We honestly wanted to go back right away, but alas, that will have to wait for another trip. Until we can one day return to Manderley, it will live in my dreams, like a haunted memory that floats to the surface. I feel so lucky to have experienced it and cannot wait to return.

TIPS:

Who to Follow?

Many people might think they want to follow Macbeth the entire time for their first visit. I would actually argue he is one of the least exciting storylines. If you follow any of the other Macbeth characters, you will run into him from time to time anyway.

If you don’t feel like running after any actors and prefer to explore the different levels but still want to see the show, stick to floors two (the Hotel Lobby) and 4 (Gallow’s Green), so much action happens there.

How do you get a 1:1

Don’t be pushy and crowd the actor’s space. This will come off as super obvious. The goal of the show shouldn’t be to get a 1:1. The goal should be to be so invested in what is happening and connected to the characters, you earn the 1:1. People who just seek the 1:1 but don’t care about the story won’t get as much from the experience as they won’t have as much context as to the meaning behind it. Wear something bright or easily identifiable even in the dark. This will help the actors pick you out of the crowd if you have been following them for a few scenes. I wore some really shining and eye-catching makeup as well which I think really helped convey my emotions through my eyes to the actors.

I hope this guide helps you make the most of your trip to the McKittrick Hotel! Please share your experiences or other tips in the comments to help the next set of adventurers follow the breadcrumbs toward Manderley.

Happy Travels, Adventurers!

The post ‘Sleep No More’ Explained: A Complete Guide to the Story, Characters & Plotlines [2022 UPDATED] first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

‘Sleep No More’ – Everything you Need to Know About Visting the McKittrick Hotel [2022 UPDATED]

The Creative Adventurer — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 20:29:11 +0000

Sitting here in the dead of winter, during the pandemic, I have time and time again closed my eyes and “dreamt I went to Manderley again…” I am dreaming of the time when I can return to New York and see ‘Sleep No More‘ again.

I had heard about ‘Sleep No More’ from various friends who had gone to see it and just raved about it. But the price tag always made me hesitate. Anyone who has gone to see it is oddly secretive about the experience. Therefore, I found it hard to validate spending $100+ per ticket when no one would tell me anything about it! But finally, after much back and forth and some encouragement from my friend, we bought our tickets. And I can safely say it was the best money I ever spent!

While I don’t want to spoil the experience for anyone, there are a few things I wish I’d known before walking into the doors. So if you’re curious and want a few clues as to how to make the most of your experience, then read on. This post is spoiler-free but I do have an additional guide with some spoilers. This is for those who want a more in-depth review of my experience.

What is ‘Sleep No More’?

‘Sleep No More’ is an interactive and immersive stage production. It is loosely based on William Shakespeare‘s Macbeth but set in a 1930’s film noir aesthetic. The show contains almost no dialogue but is filled with interpretive dancing to convey the scenes or stories. Unlike typical theatre, where you sit in one seat for the entire show and watch the plot unfold in front of you, ‘Sleep No More’ acts more like a choose your own adventure. The show takes place in the fictional “McKittrick Hotel,” which has many different levels to explore. There are over 100 rooms where you can follow the action and discover hidden secrets.

The three-hour performance is actually a one-hour loop performed three times. This way you can study the entire show from multiple angles, sometimes literally. You can see what might have been going on in a different part of the hotel while something else totally different is taking place down below.

The entire show doesn’t unfold in a perfectly linear fashion. While some storylines have a beginning, middle and end, others are tougher to put together. It is more like a piece of artwork to be interpreted and discussed. All that being said, it is absolutely one of the most unique experiences you will ever have. All the guests have the option to do whatever they want while they are inside the hotel. You can follow one actor/character throughout the entire hotel discovering their plotline or simple study and interact with the props found throughout the hotel.

Buying Tickets & When to Arrive

Sleep No More is back in 2022 after being shut down for more than two years due to the global pandemic. There are different options when it comes to buying a ticket; Maximilian’s Guest, Oz’s Guest or a Standard Ticket. All tickets are cheaper during the week rather than on the weekend so if you’re looking to save money definitely go for the weekday tickets. I also find weekdays to have a less boisterous crowd and the space is generally less crowded.

Ticket Options

Maximilian’s Guest tickets cost $314-360 per person! Your ticket includes a glass of fine champagne, a complimentary coat check and a reserved seat inside the Manderley Bar. Oz’s Guest tickets are $160-195 per person and include everything except for the champagne. I don’t know about you but I don’t think any champagne is worth that price! The last option is the standard ticket which costs $114-149 per person. There is nothing included in this ticket except for the entry. But since coat check only costs $4 there really is no reason not to get the cheapest ticket. The reserved table is only a benefit for those who don’t wanna go right into the hotel upon entering. Save your money and opt to go to a bar after the fact.

When to Arrive

Choose the earliest admission when booking your ticket. This means you’ll have the longest amount of time inside the hotel. Even with the earliest admission, go to the hotel to line up 30 minutes before that time. We purchased the standard tickets, arrived about 20 mins early and still got to spend around two and a half hours inside.

Covid Protocols

After booking your tickets, guests will receive an advisement email 24 -48 hours prior to their visit with the latest guidelines and requirements. As of March 7th, 2022, all guests must present a valid photo ID along with proof of full vaccination in the form of a physical or digital COVID-19 Vaccination Card. Guests are required to have received their final COVID-19 vaccine dose at least fourteen days prior to their reservation.

All guests will be provided with a KN95 mask upon entry which is required to be worn the entire time inside. This is worn under your Sleep No More theatrical mask that has been modified to fit on top of the KN95 masks. The sought-after 1-1’s have been altered to follow covid more strict protocols and generally, guests are asked to give each other some space. But since everyone often crowds into certain small areas this often is something that isn’t strictly followed.

Coat Check

You cannot bring anything inside the hotel with you—no phones allowed, no bags, and no coats. Everything MUST be left at the coat check, which is compulsory. If you didn’t get the coat check included in your ticket it costs $4.00 per person. Remember to bring some cash for the coat check as it speeds the check-in process along.

About the McKittrick Hotel

The location of ‘Sleep No More’ takes place inside the doors of the old McKittrick Hotel. The McKittrick Hotel was built in 1939 and was intended to be one of New York’s finest luxury hotels. But before it could open the hotel’s investors lost their capital to the war efforts. The hotel was left abandoned and condemned for over 50 years….or at least that’s the fictional story of the hotel. Ok, in reality, the buildings which are now used for the production were various old warehouses in Chelsea combined and converted just for the show. Over 100,000-square-feet (9,300 m2) were transformed by the Punchdown theatre company to create the great McKittrick Hotel. You can explore five floors throughout the show and a secret sixth floor, which only a few lucky visitors will experience.

How to get there

The hotel is located at 530 West 27th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenue. The nearest subway stop on the C or E train is either 23rd Street or 34th Street. From there, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the hotel. If you are trying to get there by taxi or uber, be aware that 27th street is not a thru-street, so it’s best to get picked up or dropped off a few streets over.

What’s with the Masks?

All guests are required to wear a mask throughout the entire experience. One of the reasons for this is that all the guests wear masks, but the actors do not. Therefore you can tell who is a guest and who is an actor. This design is a replica of the old Venetian Bauta masks, which were designed to hide the wearer’s identity. In ancient Venice, this allowed rich aristocrats to partake in some otherwise frowned-upon activities. While wearing a mask might seem odd, the show aims to make you feel like a voyeur peeking in on the actors. Sporting a disguise allows you to feel braver and perhaps let your guard down. You might feel less inhibited and even step out of your comfort zone.

If you wear glasses, the mask will not fit over the top of them. If you can get contacts, this might be the only way to enjoy the experience (which admittedly feels a little ableist). We’ve tried to figure out how to fit glasses over top of the mask, and it’s virtually impossible or at the very least uncomfortable.

What to Wear

What you wear to see the show is super important. The most critical of which is your choice of footwear! Since the night can be as long as three hours, you want to wear comfortable shoes. I saw so many people there wearing high heels, and by the end of the evening, they were leaning on walls and looked more exhausted than excited. If you are interested in following one character’s storyline, sometimes this requires you literally run after them to ensure they don’t get away and you miss their next scene. Without good shoes, you can’t chase after them.

I also think wearing something breathable and not too warm is helpful. It can get hot inside, and if you’re running around, you don’t want to be wearing a wool cardigan. Since you have to coat check anyways, you can always wear something warmer there and leave those extra layers at the coat check.

Another thing which is a strange one but is a MUST is a wristwatch! Since you won’t have your phone to tell the time, a watch will help you gauge how long you have been inside. Or when the first or second loop of the show might end. While getting lost is part of the experience, if you’re someone who wants to get the most out of it, having a watch to tell the time might help you out.

Accessibility

Sadly, while you ride an elevator up when entering the hotel for the first time, the experience is not wheelchair or walking aid friendly as the elevator is not for public use after that point. So much of the show involves moving around dark, narrow passageways, sometimes very quickly. Accessing the various floors is done by using the steep wrought-iron staircases. If you have a hard time standing for an extended period or need a mobility aid, this might be a challenging outing for you. I really hope they change it over time to make it more accessible, but it seems unlikely since the show has been running for so long. The entire production is also very, very dark, so if you have low vision or claustrophobia, you might also want to give it a miss.

Be Warned…

The show is not just an immersive experience. It is an interactive experience. Actors approach you very closely and may even touch you. They might even pull you with them to another room for the elusive 1:1s. If you don’t want to interact that closely with them the actors are very good at respecting if you pull away. But if you are super shy, just stay in the back or in a group of people. If you are interested in a more intimate experience, go to the front and don’t be afraid of getting close to the actors. But please respect everyone’s boundaries and only touch the actors if they interact with you first and of course don’t be a creep.

There are various employees who wear black masks located throughout the show, these are essentially security guards there to protect the actors and keep the audience from entering any off-limit areas. If you are using your phone or talking too loudly they will step in to warn or remove you from the show. They are also there to give you directions if you to find a washroom.

Strategies for ‘Sleep No More’

Follow an Actor

Personally, I think there are two main strategies you can use to experience the show. The first is to follow one character as soon as you get inside. This allows you to see their storyline from start to finish. This definitely is an excellent choice for first-timers, as it feels like you are following a more linear storyline.

If you are the first to get inside the hotel, all the main characters will be gathered in the basement where King Duncan is hosting a ball. There you can choose an actor who piques your interest and follow them from there. But remember, they move quickly, so be ready to run. If you don’t arrive right at the start of the first loop, make it a point once you enter to find a scene or group of actors and follow whoever interests you. If you don’t see anyone right away, just keep moving, and you will find them soon enough.

Search and Explore

The second way is to investigate. This means more or less ignoring the actors but going off on your own and exploring the entirety of the building. You are allowed to look inside drawers, pull books off shelves and read them. Open doors, find keys to locked rooms. Even crawl through hidden access points. There is so much to explore in the hotel. Every little thing is a clue to the story you are literally living in. It’s not very often you are given carte blanche to be a voyeur, to go through other people’s belongings or snoop inside medical records. So use this change to your advantage. And of course, you can blend a little bit of either strategy together to experience everything the hotel has to offer.

More Tips

Leave Your Friends Behind

While you might feel like you want to stay close with the group you came with, the experience is intended to be your own. Everyone finds their own interests in the show. It’s essential to allow yourself to explore what you are drawn to and your own personal desires. Talking is absolutely banned, so it’s not like you can chat with your friends anyway. If you feel really scared and apprehensive make a plan with whoever you’re with to head inside the first few rooms together and then break away separately for the rest of the evening. This allows you to slowly get used to the atmosphere but then break out on your own.

Follow the Music

Music is a vital part of the show. In fact, it is the only way in which the actors are given any cues. There is no central control room. At only three points in the show, the same music plays in all the different parts of the building. If you feel lost or like you might want to rejoin a large scene, keep an ear to the ground for loud music, and you will surely be lead towards the actors. On the other hand, if you want to get away from the crowds, stick to the more quiet parts of the building.

It’s 18+ for a Reason

All guests attending Sleep No More must be over the age of 18 years with valid ID. Any guest under the age of 18 years old must be accompanied at all times by a ticketed parent or legal guardian. A signed Under-18 waiver must be submitted by the ticketed guardian at time of entry to the house manager on duty. This is because not only does the show depict violence and has a lot of blood and gore there is full frontal-nudity in various portions of the show so you might want to re-thinking bringing the whole family.

Arriving at the Hotel

After arriving at the hotel, your name will be on the guest list. Present your ID and give all your worldly possessions over to the coat check. You will then proceed over to the reception desk, where you’ll receive a playing card. You have no printed tickets. This playing card is the only “ticket” you’ll receive. Depending on your arrival time will determine the number on your card. The earlier you arrive, the earlier you will be let inside, so try to arrive as early as you can. This is as far as I will go in terms of discussing what happens when you enter as this is a spoiler-free post. But if you are interested in reading about the stories which influenced the plot of “Sleep No More’ read on!

A Brief Summary of the Story

I know EVERYONE seems to say its best not to know anything about the show before you go, but I really disagree. While having your own experience and interpretation of what happened is great, just like in appreciating art, sometimes a bit of context goes a long way to helping you on your journey.

About Macbeth

If you’ve never seen or read Macbeth, this little synopsis will help you out in understanding the scenes you might glimpse in on throughout the show. Macbeth is a general in the army of King Duncan, the King of Scotland. One night he is visited by three witches who prophesize that he will become King of Scotland.

About Rebecca

Woven into the Skaespearan plot are elements of Hitchcock‘s haunting gothic romance film ‘Rebecca‘ (which was just made into a modern Netflix film!). The plot of Rebecca concerns a young woman who marries a widow, Maxim de Winter. They return to live at Maxim de Winter‘s mansion called “Manderley“. There she meets the unkind Mrs. Danvers, who dislikes the new bride as Mrs. Danvers she was so close to his previous wife, Rebecca. The new Mrs. de Winter discovers that the previous marriage had been a shame. During a confrontation between the couple, Rebecca fell and struck her head. It might have looked like Mr. De Winters had killed her, so he took the body out in a boat and capsized it to make it look like she drowned. Mrs. Danvers, enraged by the discovery, sets Manderley on fire and kills herself in the blaze.

The story’s central theme is all about guilt and anxiety, as well as love, obsession and power. Throughout the show, keep an eye out for these themes and characters as they appear throughout. The Hitchcockian influences can be seen not only in the plot but in the set decorations and also the music that plays throughout the building. You will hear from time to timepieces from Bernard Herrmann‘s score from the movie ‘Vertigo’. Even the name, the McKittrick Hotel, comes from Hitchcock’s ‘Vertigo’.

Selznick International Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

About the Paisley Witch Trials

The third and final reference woven into the fabric of the show is the Paisley Witch Trials. These were the last European witch trials, which took place in Scotland in 1697. The witch trials involved accusations from an eleven-year-old aristocratic girl, Christian Shaw, who accused several of her family’s servants of being witches. In the end, seven people were found guilty of witchcraft and condemned to death by her words. The five who were hung were executed in Gallow Green. The town of Gallow Green can be found on the 4th floor of the hotel. Several of the accused men and women who died in the trails can be found wandering those streets. It is rumoured that before Agnes Naismith (one of the accused witches) died, she cursed everyone present at her trial and their descendants. Perhaps that curse still infects the grounds of Gallow Green today…

After the show, you can head up to the Gallow Green rooftop bar to enjoy a few themed drinks. Or you can also choose to stay in the Manderley Bar to enjoy some evening entertainment.

Click here to see more about the experience as a whole and my personal account of the evening!

The post ‘Sleep No More’ – Everything you Need to Know About Visting the McKittrick Hotel [2022 UPDATED] first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.