the Lemon Bucket Orkestra and some members of the cast of ‘Counting Sheep.’ Photo Credit – Mati Bardosh Gelman
For those who believe that theater can a difference with the way people look at world issues, go see the U.S. premiere of the musical Counting Sheep. If you are not convinced that it can make a difference, then take a chance and go to see it now through its final performance on Sunday, December 17, 2017. You will come out of that show with a whole new outlook on the power of live theater.
This show will rock you to your core.
Counting Sheep is an immersive theatrical experience which brings audiences inside the heart of the 2013 – 2014 Ukrainian revolution on Maidan Square. Public protests began in Independence Square in Kiev and eventually led to the resignation of Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych deemed to be embroiled in corruption. Fighting continues to this day. Hundreds of people have been killed.
Counting Sheep is a personal retelling of the uprising that succeeded in toppling the Ukrainian government. Created by Mark Marczyk and Marichka Marczyk, this production is inspired by their own experiences right on the streets during the protests. Direction is by Kevin Newbury. The show features a guerrilla folk opera band from Toronto, the Lemon Bucket Orkestra. The songs are sung entirely in traditional Ukrainian polyphony. Even if you don’t speak the language, you will get what is being said by the intense emotion from the performers.
Shows are at 3LD Theater, 80 Greenwich Street, downtown in New York City. This enormous space provides three walls of wide and tall screens on which actual video footage taken during the protests are shown. There is also a roving videographer who films events taking place during the show and those project as well. Audiences are encouraged to document the revolution so the use of cameras is allowed.
Photo by Karen Nowosad
Tickets are available in two zones: immersive and viewing only. The immersive ticket includes some food and inclusion in the action of the show. Viewing patrons sit on wooden bleachers along the sides. It is important to note that immersion in this show appears to be very safe and well done. The cast was very gentle working with the crowd and very kind to everyone. My original plan was to just view since I was writing about the show. But suddenly, I felt compelled to join in and I was readily accepted.
The show begins with a peaceful meal taking place and moves to the beginnings of crowd action in the square. Eventually fighting breaks out and those who elect to be immersive may find themselves helping the cast members to fortify the barricades, throw bricks (not real ones), and even dance at someone’s wedding. The action is nonstop; no intermission. The ending will get you thinking and wondering what a price has been paid.
Photo by Karen Nowosad
The wonderful cast of Counting Sheep features Mark Marczyk, Marichka Marczyk, Dmytro Nechepurenko, Eli Camilo, Jaash Singh, Michael Louis Johnson, Nathan Dell-Vandenberg, Oskar Lambarri, Tamar Ilana, Stephania Woloshyn and Volodymyr Bedzvin.
Performances of Counting Sheep are on Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8PM with matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at 3PM.
This show is so well done it has to get a future run in New York City. Get to see it while it is still downtown because this could be the next Great Comet theatrical experience. And yes, they, too, serve pierogi that are very good!
Don’t miss it.
To see other photos I took at the performance, visit the Facebook page for Let’s Go to the Theater.