The Bloomington Playwrights Project is offering Living Room Cruise Lines with a series of shows that can be zoomed from the relative comfort of our homes. The first show Oct 1-3 and 9-11, is mentalist Max Major’s “Remote Control” a virtual mind reading experiment. Max has visited Bloomington before at the BPP in person, but this is a new twist.
Although you don’t need “the box” to enjoy the show, I was happy to see a package in my mailbox with “the box” inside. The box is shiny and black. On the top it announces the show. On the back left there are five numbered instructions, beginning with “Create a Zoom Account…” and ending with “Enjoy the Show!” On the back right, suggestions from Max beginning with: PARTICIPATION… encouraged, and ending with SURPRISE: “There’s a few inside,” and a warning, “no peekng.!”
I’m pretty comfortable with zooming, but this was my first theatre experience, and I was a little nervous. Max quickly put me at ease, and I hope the rest of the audience of 192 zoom households as well. He’s a very personable fellow and just as in his live shows he does involve members of the audience in his amazing tricks. I’ve been sworn to secrecy about the specifics, but I can tell you that they all involve the audience in numbers, pictures, and complicated directions that lead to happy conclusions.
Frankly, the hour and twenty minutes went by so quickly that I was surprised when Max thanked us and wrapped things up with a final trick.
Staying safe at home, I’m George Walker
