Much Ado About Nothing? (Well, What’s The Something?)

Jérôme Bel’s new show is a hot ticket. But while Tobi Tobias is “intermittently” charmed, she wonders what all the fuss is about. “The stage is quite bright now. Still no one there. A third song starts. I guess the idea is that if you look at nothing for a very long time, you’ll be fascinated by anything that finally shows up. There’s some truth in this, but you’re less likely to perceive wonders in vacancy when you know some director type is using the sensory-deprivation strategy as a gimmick.”