Off-Broadway Access Review -
The Monsters

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ID: image of The Monsters 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

New York City Center - MTC Stage II

All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats in the center of the back row

Bathrooms: 

  • restrooms located halfway down the staircase straight ahead and then to the right (on level B1 via elevator)

  • divided into the binary, but with a sign that says “Guests are encouraged to use the restroom that aligns with their gender expression or identity.” Each restroom has an accessible single-user restroom inside

Other theater accessibility:

  • there is an elevator to the left of the staircase

  • upon entering the theater (it’s a door to the left of where you go in for the NYCC Main Stage box office) you will go down a split flight of stairs. At the bottom is the theater, which is on your right. There is a step up for each row beyond the first

  • they offer assistive listening options, AD devices, and Braille & large print Playbills 

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

Light/Sound/Scent

General:

  • the show runs 100 minutes without an intermission

  • I didn’t need earplugs for this show, but I might recommend having one in since there were many almost jumpscare moments of volume shift

  • there were a lot of moments where equipment was very loud, like slapping gloves together or kicking a punching bag. I didn’t note those here, but they appear often throughout so keep an eye out for it

  • the stage is incredibly hazy on and off for most of the show, but most so right after fights and takes a long time to dissipate

  • when you walk into the theater, make sure to stay on the carpet!

  • the side aisles get utilized throughout 

  • the sensory accessibility of this show is similar to that of John Proctor is the Villain, Mother Russia, and The Roommate

Pre-Show: medium to loud volume music playing

The Show:

  • begins with pulsing white strobe down light that slowly turns red and white, as well as yellow lights on the sides slowly turning on and off with loud applause and some buzzer noises– lasts maybe 90 seconds

  • the right LED bar light in the “gym” is a bit flickery, but you only ever notice it for about 30 seconds at a time

  •  loud banging noises after the headphones go on for ~10 seconds

  • brief smoking, isolated to the left side of the stage, I think it was unscented

  • 4 loud buzzer noises after punching bag is put away

  • ~2 min of hospital monitor beeping noises

  • quick light shift with loud click after “goodnight”

  • audio crescendos strongly after the red gloves are put on, transitioning into the white/red strobe sequence when the imaginary opponent is on the ground which lasts for 5-7 seconds

  • buzzer noise after the jump ropes are out

  • CW - someone throw up into a bucket after burpees 

  • airhorn noise when it’s just Lil on stage and the LEDs get kind of flickery with loud applause noises – fight ends with another horn

  • music gets rather loud when the punching bag comes back out - also buzzer noise on her second jump kick

  • very loud banging and increasingly flickery (as the contrast goes down) lights when she throws her gloves for about 90-120 sec, followed by full red flashes for ~45, and then loud audience noises for ~60

  • white and then red downlight flicker strobe after she exists for ~90 sec

Content Advisory

  • violence (the show is about Martial Arts) 

  • mentions of parent death

  • implied physical abuse and a few mentions of domestic violence

  • alcoholism & drug use (including mention of overdose)

  • a few small mentions of diets & cutting weight

  • singular moment of throwing up

  • singular joke about suicide