Almost every New Yorker has an opinion about the Vessel, and almost nobody has thought about the people paid minimum wage to stand inside it all day. Brendan George's play puts three of them on shift together, mixing workplace comedy with the weight of what happened there, and critics called it careful writing about responsibility and grief. If you want a new play genuinely about this city, this is the one closing soonest.
What to expect
Ninety minutes with no intermission in one of 59E59's small houses, played close and conversational so the coworker banter lands like overheard conversation. The tone starts as workplace comedy and darkens as the shift goes on, handling the landmark's history with care rather than shock. Three actors carry the entire piece.
Good to know
- 6 to 51st Street or E/M to Lexington-53rd; 59E59 is on East 59th between Park and Madison
- Runs 90 minutes straight through with no intermission
- The play addresses suicide at the Vessel — sensitive, but discussed directly
- 59E59 offers member pricing and the houses are small, so late-run seats go quickly
- Good for anyone who follows new downtown-scale writing about New York
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Common questions
What is the play about?
Three minimum-wage employees working at the Vessel at Hudson Yards, and how they handle the job and the landmark's history over a shift.
How long is it?
Ninety minutes with no intermission at 59E59 Theaters on East 59th Street.
Is it heavy?
It is a comedy-drama. There is real humor in the coworker dynamic, but it deals directly with the deaths at the Vessel and with grief.
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