Sideways The Experience

[dave1606]

Posted: 2/21/20 at 11:44am

I saw this last night. I loved the film and I liked the idea of making the show interactive. I did the wine pairing which translates to 2 glasses of wine which you can do at your own pace, IE have a glass before and at intermission etc. 

There are three versions of tickets:

1. Full experience which includes a catered dinner with wine pairings. At $175 it was too rich for my blood!

2. Wine+Show

3. Show only. 

Sadly this show did not really meet expectations. Originally the ticket was listed as a "wine tasting+show" but was't really that. 

As far as interactive, the only thing that happens during the show is during the winery tour some of the actors come through the audience and pour wine for the VIP tickets who have a special cup to identify themselves. 

As for the show itself, it is fine. It doesn't really need to exist. There is a line added something to the effect of "She drinks as much as Elaine Strictch" that got a little bit of a laugh. 

This is based off the book, not the movie, which has some added scenes that frankly I can see why they did not make the film. There is a boar hunting scene in act 2 that seemed to go on and on to no end. The show runs 2 and a half hours and does not justify that runtime. It seems cutting that boar hunt would easily shave 20 minutes off that. 

The actors were mostly decent though the actor playing Miles seemed to be trying too hard to do his best Paul Giamatti. I was a fan of both of the women whom I thought filled the Sandra Oh and Virginia Madsen parts nicely. 

Overall I had a fun time with my friends (and the wine) but I wouldn't say that this is a must do. What is happening with the other adaptation of Sideways, the musical version?

[Ledaero]

Posted: 2/21/20 at 11:54am

Glad to hear a report. Saw an ad for this the other day and was both intrigued and confused as to why/how Sideways is being done as an interactive experience. I love the movie, but it doesn't seem like it would lend itself to being all that exciting on the stage. And what could possibly be interactive about it? I was really trying to think about what they could've made interactive in the story and I didn't come up with much, and it sounds like the artistic team also didn't come up with much either lol