4 Responses to “Matthew Richter/xom: Dinner Theater”

1. Dana Sweeney Says:
   September 17th, 2006 at 1:13 pm

   Every live performance is by its nature a unique experience, no matter how polished the players or how long the run; at least minor differences are inevitable. But Matthew Richter does not settle for the casual variations that occur, he strives to create art that is perfectly untwinnable. As he reminds his audiences at 14/48 twice a year, “Art happens once.” Dinner Theater takes that idea and makes it into a palpable, edible reality, exploring the dangers of repetition supplanting invention. As is always the case, I am thrilled to have been there for the experience, and I envy those who will be there for the remaining performances, as each will be, inevitably, truly unique.

2. Helene Kaplan Says:
   September 17th, 2006 at 11:57 pm

   In retrospect I realize that everything I did today was a preamble to “Dinner Theater”:

   1. Read chapter of Jared Diamond’s “Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed.”

   2. Listen to Canadian Opera Company’s Internet broadcast of “Götterdämmerung.”

   3. Read article in the “New Yorker” which mentioned the billions of Warren Buffett’s money will be distributed in a relatively short period of time by the Gates Foundation. Ponder how Bill Gates has operated under the assumption that monumental and far-reaching decisions must be made with limited information, and what the long-term results of the Gates Foundation’s decisions will be.

   The good news is that the premise of “Dinner Theater” is that there will be a civilization around in 26th century to have the discussion at the root of the performance. (And that there’s so much wonderful food and wine to make the vision seem less immediately hopeless.)

   Just a few practical notes: If you are a vegetarian, make this clear to your servers, and check out the main course before you sit for the Act II meal. If it contains meat/fowl/shellfish, etc., the appetizers make a great meal in themselves. Also, if you’re avoiding alcohol, it’s good to use the nose test, and check if you’re in doubt.

3. A. de Soto Says:
   September 19th, 2006 at 11:21 pm

   Very pleased to have been part of this experiment and yet…

   Not to be the downer cow among us but I was less awed by the brillance than the other attendees seemed to be. An intriguing concept in progress but with a good bit of room for further exploration and refinement left. This is not necessarily a negative in my mind as there’s fertile ground here and Richter is definitely on to something.

   The culinary concoctions were creative and the group psychology dynamics were worth the experience but the thematic structure of the narrative could benefit from a bit more editing (and no, the excuse that the Commission rambles does not make up for this).

   Less stumbling over lines and a bit more care to the language – the dichotomy between the artful performances and the less than eloquent dialogue seems solvable with a little more time and attention.

   All of this said, I imagine I would very much enjoy this experience again – especially after some of the kinks have been worked out.

   Bravo to OtB for supporting this kind of work and many thanks to Richter and the crew for their inspiring efforts.

4. Paul Ashwell Says:
   October 12th, 2006 at 6:43 pm

   My My

   the multi talented chef miss Lisa Esposito seems to pop up just about anywhere cutting edge, creatiivity, art or great culinary experiences are happening.

   well done Lisa.

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