With three large, gilded frames hanging directly in front of the audience, A Day at the Museum flips your perspective, making you watch the performance through the viewpoint of displayed art. Exactly which piece of art’s view you are seeing is shown in the background, where a nude woman sits behind a gauzy cloth, which is sheer enough to show her figure, but hazy enough to be discreet about it. Not a word is spoken throughout the entire performance; the actors pantomime, expertly showing their emotions through expressive gestures.
An original and beautiful score by Brain Wilbur Grundstrom moves the play along, and the audience is treated to touching and humorous antics of the public that a work of art, if it could see, would be subjected to on a daily basis. The actors (or should I say – mimes) are animated and a delight to watch, whether they are dressed as the stereotypical DC tourist wearing a plastic poncho, or a shirtless man wearing a leash and a studded collar (I at first wondered what on earth I got myself into, before realizing that he was actually supposed to be ~phew~ a dog). I enjoyed it immensely and highly recommend it.
Running time: 60 minutes.
A Day at the Museum information and tickets.
Julia Exline graduated from Longwood University in 2009 with a B.A. in English and a concentration in Creative Writing. She is delighted to be involved with the Maryland Theatre Guide, as it allows her to bring writing back into her life. Julia enjoys browsing used book stores and collecting rare, out-of-print children's books.
