The COVID-19 pandemic has made every industry look at how they interact with the public. So naturally performance art in New York City has taken some interesting twists. VOYEUR: The Windows of Toulouse-Lautrec is certainly one of those twists. It’s a pandemic-friendly theatrical walking tour. So just what does “pandemic-friendly” mean? Well, only eight tickets are sold for each performance. The tour is mostly outdoors and everyone, including the performers wear a mask.
VOYEUR was inspired by Bated Breath Theatre’s “Unmaking Toulouse-Lautrec,” which was named one of the “best immersive plays and interactive theatrical experiences” by Time Out. It follows the life of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec who was a French artist that came to fame during the Post Impressionist period. Born in southern France, Toulouse-Lautrec was born with severe congenital health conditions due to family inbreeding. He moved to Paris in 1882 to study under painter Léon Bonnat. But there was a certain area of Paris that kept drawing him in. Montmartre was known for its bohemian lifestyle. Many eccentric artists, writers, and philosophers lived and played in the area, and so did Toulouse-Lautrec. He frequently visited brothels and entertained prostitutes, sometimes even painting them while they worked.
His career lasted just over a decade, in which he painted beautiful canvases, created provocative posters and contributed to the rise of print advertising. When the Moulin Rouge cabaret opened its doors, Toulouse-Lautrec was commissioned to create a series of posters for it, catapulting him into fame. Unfortunately, Toulouse-Lautrec was an alcoholic and that ultimately led to his death.
Created and directed by Mara Lieberman, the performance of VOYEUR allows you to peer in the dreams of the iconic artist as he recalls his final absinthe-laced years living and working in Montmartre. The sidewalks, doorways and windows of Greenwich Village become the setting, transporting you into the bohemian, even provocative, world of 1899 Paris. As audience members peek into Toulouse-Lautrec’s life, passing New Yorkers also become the voyeurs as the performance moves throughout the village. This is one of my favorite parts of the experience; the voyeurs turn out to be the ones being watched. It really is a beautiful experience, which reminded me that despite the rumors, New York City’s art scene is not dead. The running time is around an hour, and shows are available the rest of October and through November 22nd. Visit www.unmakinglautrecplay.com for times.
