Upon entering the Sleep No More production at the McKittrick Hotel everyone will agree that you are immediately crossing the threshold into another realm. What is surprising about this man-made alternate reality, whether you have just entered the Manderley Bar on the Second Floor, or when you are kicked out of the elevator and thrown into the modern day version of the Shakespearean world of Macbeth, is the amount of detail that is put into the design and structure of the set. Those details are an essential part of the performance because of the effect it has on the participants in this world building experience.

From the moment you are given the masks and are asked to get off the elevator at an unknown floor, preferably alone, you are surrounded by dozens of objects and rooms beckoning you to explore. “The rooms are haphazardly laid out and connected, each intricately detailed and containing its own subtle mysteries.” (Andrew) The first room I chose to enter was a bedroom which contained a dresser full of the clothing for a small child. Normally, I would have brushed off this clothing as any old prop. However, upon further examination, I discovered the name “Macduff” written on each article of clothing. This piqued my curiosity and prompted me to look for other pieces of evidence that would confirm my suspicions that this was Lady Macduff’s room. In each room throughout the hotel, no matter which floor, there are discoveries to be made. They are intricately hidden and set up so that there may be some props which are simply just props, such as the shaving cream I discovered in dresser. But on the other hand, there are others which hold great meaning, such as when I unknowingly stumbled across Macbeth’s prophecy in the form of the King of Hearts.

  The Sleep No More performance consists of not only actors attempting to engage the audience into active participation, but also consists of an equally important aspect of the details of each set. The secrets waiting to be discovered in each room, invoke participation and wonder from the audience. Since Sleep No More is based off of not only the story of Macbeth but also has references to the Paisley Witch Trials and even Alfred Hitchcock’s movie Psycho, the clever little hints hidden throughout, such as, “the handwritten diary on the altar in the towel room,” and the “array of forceps in the hospital”, (Nick) are essential to fully understanding what Sleep No More is about. As Amelia writes, “as an audience member, you are constantly questioning the importance or relevance of the things you see in each room.” Those details are what invokes true participation and critical thinking that adds another level of depth to this exhilarating performance.