Broadway Access Review -
Punch

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ID: image of the Punch 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

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats in the front right mezzanine

Bathrooms:

  • divided into the binary, though there is a sign that says “Please use the restroom that best aligns with your personal gender identity and expression”

  • located downstairs beneath the orchestra and two levels above the orchestra

Other theater accessibility:

  • the theater’s entrance has 3 steps to the orchestra (and some steps in the orch), but the elevator is step free

  • all levels of the theatre are wheelchair accessible

  • they offer assistive listening and hearing aid compatible devices, captioning devices, AD headsets, and braille/large print Playbills

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

Light/Sound/Scent

General:

  • The show is primarily structured around a narrator and then the ensemble around him constructs every single moment of his story, so it’s fast moving with lots of very fast lighting shifts and sound cues that made notation both nearly impossible and ultimately unhelpful for a viewer. The various cues used are light haze/smoke, white strobes at half dim, alternating down lights (colored and not), a quick white wash over the audience, and music with a bit of a loud/physical beat to it. These cues appear very frequently, but none ever last (with the exception of the music) for longer than about 5 seconds consecutively (unless noted),  though sequences of things can be up to several minutes.

  • The sensory accessibility of this show is very similar to that of a slightly more sensory friendly production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. It’s also semi similar to that of Dorian Gray

  • I didn’t need earplugs, I might suggest bringing them, but do note that they all use various British accents which may be difficult for auditory processing!

Pre Show: quiet volume music playing + bird noises

Act I:

  • “I don’t think I’ve had real champagne before” - loud champagne cork sound

  • loud phone ring when he goes in for a punch (with accompanying white wash over audience) 

  • “the Alton Towers theme park” - 10 sec white down strobe with screaming

  • loud phone ring after Jacob runs out with the folks in green uniforms

  • loud noise when he goes in for a punch

  • he puts a match into a trash can and there is a very small fire, but there is no smoke or associated noise

  • “Yes. Okay. Yes.” - followed by a loud transition

  • loud slam noises after “but it really does slam shut”

  • loud bass & some quiet fireworks noises after “more of a thud” for ~30 sec

  • noise after “it is what it is”

Intermission: music/sound returns

Act II:

  • crackers go off on the “happy New Year!” after the countdown

  • gets flashy & smoky after the man in leather yells “Jacob!” for about a minute

  • “Yeah, he’s alright. And you?” - loud school bell

Content Advisory

  • child loss

  • parent loss

  • grief 

  • PTSD

  • drug use 

  • imagery & discussion of the justice system

  • discussions around autism (and lack of disability support) 

  • descriptions of violence 

  • descriptions of medical things/taking someone off of life support