A new bank just opened in downtown Manhattan, and it’s a really great place. Traditional financial institutions would hardly elicit such an emotional reaction, but not every financial institution is Life and Trust, a company with ominous slogans like “Banking is in our blood” and “We care about your well-being… because we care about your well-being.”
The phrases are prominently printed on posters, business cards and other marketing materials in the den of capitalism. Every detail has been carefully chosen and executed, and the building undeniably resembles a place where one might actually conduct financial affairs. But Life and Trust is not a real bank. It is the title of Emursive’s new, sprawling theatrical extravaganza, set in a 1931 building that was once the headquarters of the City Bank-Farmers Trust Company, the predecessor of the better-known Citigroup.
For the sake of drama and an exciting evening, put aside your skepticism and become a prospective client of JG Conwell, CEO and Chairman of Life and Trust. Shortly after you arrive, you’ll meet him. But not before you’re greeted by one of his sophisticated staff who will wait on the room while you sip carefully crafted cocktails in the huge waiting area, which by day is a true full-service coffeehouse with excellent food.
We are told that Mr. Conwell wants to meet us in person, and leads a small group into his mahogany-floored office. He tells us that he received an unfortunate phone call just before we arrived, and that the stock market is about to crash. We also learn that the secret to his fortune lies in an opioid-laced syrup that cured his sister Naima. A phantom appears to Conwell, giving him the opportunity to return to his youth. The price? His soul.
This is the only dialogue in the show. If this sounds familiar, think of Faust, the 18th-century play by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe that has seeped into the cultural landscape, inspiring operas, novels and films, and asking the age-old ethical question: “What are you willing to sell your soul for?”
Conwell’s assistant hands out plastic masks that must be worn for the entire two-and-a-half hours. Afterwards, we are free to move around all six floors of the 9,200-square-meter space and experience all the transgressions and temptations of Conwell’s youth.
The audience may stumble into a bar by chance, stroll through an abandoned garden, stand ringside at a boxing match, enjoy a variety show, watch Mephisto (the devil) pressing keys, watch scientists brewing a magic potion in a laboratory, or be a voyeur at a secret lesbian love affair.
This immersive experience is nothing new. A decade ago, Emursive brought Shakespeare’s Macbeth brought to life in New York’s McKittrick Hotel in the form of Sleep no more. Similarly, audience members wear masks and roam the grounds to experience scenes from the Bard’s ever-present tragedy. After sold-out performances, critical acclaim, and endless extensions, the ten-year run of performances will end on September 29.
Life and trustHow Sleep no moreis ambitious and epic in scale. In many ways, it feels even grander given the elegant architecture and enormous space. On the outside of this building are 14 figures representing the “giants of finance.” It’s almost impossible not to feel the energy and courage of the building’s original tenants who once dominated Wall Street and the Financial District.
Don’t expect a coherent plot. Even if you know the Faust story, it’s difficult to follow. Yet there is so much to explore that is consistently fascinating that it’s impossible to get bored. Director Teddy Bergman leads a huge cast of over 40 actors with a fine eye for detail. Emilio Sosa’s sumptuous costumes match the same level of precision. Lighting designer Jeanette Yew has bathed the space in lavish splendor that highlights not only the actors but also Grace Laubacher’s sumptuous set.
Tony-nominated brothers Rick and Jeff Kuperman, currently on Broadway for The Outsidersgive the cast spectacular choreography, while Taylor Bense’s haunting score adds additional layers of delightful creepiness.
Tickets are currently on sale until September 30th, but it is a safe bet that Life and trust is quickly becoming a must-see show that will likely continue to run for a long time. Is it a bet you should put your heart on? Maybe not. But should you sell your soul for a ticket? Absolutely, yes.
Life and Trust (★★★★★) runs through September 30 at the Conwell Tower, 69 Beaver St. in New York City. Tickets are $160.50-$188.50. Visit www.lifeandtrustnyc.com.
