Off-Broadway Access Review -
Marcel on the Train

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ID: image of the Marcel on the Train Playbill in front of the stage with the text "Access Review" on top

 

General Note

This is a review of the accessibility of the theater, of the lighting/sound/scent design of the show, and a list of content warnings as a way to prep folks with various needs before they go see it. 

This is not meant to scare anyone away from seeing the show. Most productions have about the same amount of content warnings and sensory warnings to go along with it, they’re just rarely explicitly written down. 

For some people, knowing these things ahead of time makes it easier to enjoy the show because they know what to expect. And, often, makes those people more likely to see it in the first place. I hope that it’s helpful!

I am also happy to clarify any specifics, just send me a message or an email and I will respond when I can.

Also please note that I make these while seeing a show for the first time, so I may miss some cues or be slightly off as to their placement/cue line!

Theater

Classic Stage Company

All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats in the back center of the central section (facing the back wall)

Bathrooms: 

  • located sort of around the corner to the side of the box office (on the right of the main door to the theater) - there is an accessible gender neutral single-user restroom and then multi-stall ones divided into the binary 

Other theater accessibility:

  • the theater building itself has a coffee shop in the lobby, that is the correct entrance! It can look a little confusing on first glance

  • the entrance to the theater from the street is step-free, though there are steps up to each row beyond the first

  • they offer assistive listening devices

Click here for more information on the accessibility of this theater.

Light/Sound/Scent

General:

  • I did not need earplugs for this show

  • the show runs 100 minutes without an intermission 

  • there are LED lights on either side of the stage in strips that point upward, when I refer to “train lights”, that’s what I mean!

  • the sensory accessibility of this show is similar to that of Becoming Eve, Queens, Trophy Boys, and The Roommate

Show:

  • train lights turn on and then move (down the line) quickly after the girl with the braid enters, it’s a bit flashy– also includes slightly loud train noises and the girl screams – the whole sequence is loud & bright for about ~20 seconds total

  • loud bang after Marcel holds up his ticket

  • train noise after “Rouen”

  • loud noise after “do something!” 

  • after “alright!” Marcel bangs the cane on the ground 

  • train screech, then lights off, followed by lights turning loudly on when Marcel is joking about being scary

  • after “I said!” there is a yell, followed by a character having a simulated panic attack and being restrained

  • loud boom noise after “Adolphe remembers the bucket”

    • these continue with a singular flash (like a bomb) Cue lines: “poet of silence strikes again”, “at least we have the–”, “I just remembered something”

    • then long crescendo of a whistle like it’s waiting for an explosion, it does not land

  • door bang after “searching for us” - followed by many more, I didn’t catch all the cues (there are more than 6 if that’s helpful) 

  • boom noise like a heartbeat after the sandwiches are thrown on the floor – there are a few with about 5 sec in between. Stops when the Nazi puts down the sandwich

  • loud train chugging after train lights turn on

  • single yell when the silent one is on the floor writing

  • she then screams, which becomes train noises + smoke from the sides by the back of the stage, dissipates quickly

  • bang when Henri starts helping Berthe, another shortly after, and another after “what do you mean?”

  • heartbeat returns after “surrender!” - then gets a little louder just before “fire!” but no fire noise

  • quick on/off white lights that are functionally full-stage strobes from all directions on the stage with a visceral beat for ~15 seconds

  • train noise when Berthe puts her arms up, even louder when the train goes, and then a loud bang, followed by her having a second panic attack (much shorter than the first)

Content Advisory

  • Holocaust imagery & discussions, including anti-semitism and Nazis

  • discussions of death and dying young 

  • some brief descriptions of war injuries

  • two simulated panic attacks

This isn’t really a content advisory per say, but there is a character with a kidney condition who needs to pee at a few different points in the show (it’s important to the plot), so if you’re someone who has to pee constantly perhaps have a little less to drink pre-show since you’ll inevitably be thinking about it!