Use the promo code NEWTROPIC for a $50 discount on tickets to The Hammer Trinity.
All those late nights binge-watching House of Cards. That ten-hour marathon to finish the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy in one sitting. That one day you tried to power through all six seasons of Game of Thrones.
So why not binge on theater too? This is what you’ve been training for.
Through May 7, the Adrienne Arsht Center presents The Hammer Trinity, an epic, nine-hour theatrical adventure. Yea, you read that right — nine hours of tragedy, comedy, puppetry, and dragonry.
Part King Arthur, part Game of Thrones, and part Lord of the Rings, the story traces the saga of Casper Kent, a farm boy whose life is forever changed by a hammer written into his destiny. Kent’s ability to lift the great and powerful hammer reveals that he is the rightful heir to the crown that belongs to his kingdom, which has fallen into bloody rebellion. Over the course of the three-part play, Kent fights everyone from pirates to dissidents to seize the crown and try to restore order.
Writers Nathan Allen and Chris Matthews wrote the full story over the course of more than three years — releasing each part of the trilogy in three different seasons. But, the goal was always to showcase the series all at once, Matthews explained.
This is nothing like your standard Netflix-n-chill sesh (and not just because Hammer Trinity isn’t a euphemism for hooking up). It’s a live, immersive, and interactive, so no two shows are the same according to actor Patrick Falcon, a Miami native who plays Kent’s father in the show. And with the stage in the center of the room, with only 200 audience members at most, you’re right in the middle of it all.
“You’re at most 10 feet from the action. You see the actors on stage sweating, the tears are right there, you can just touch it,” Falcon said. “At the same time you look across the space and see the rest of the audience, who are also very much a part of the experience as well.”
When you’re at home in your bed staring at your 16-inch computer screen in isolation, a whole day can pass without moving or talking to other people. Not here. But it is still nine hours. That’s a long time. To help the audience stay focused, the show is broken up into seven acts, divided into three different parts. In between each act there is a 15-minute intermission, and in between each part, there’s an hour break.
“Just try to get over the mental hurdle of spending the day there and realize it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Matthews said. The cast and crew, who have been through this countless times, have a few tips for keeping up your stamina through the whole epic theatrical marathon.
While you’re waiting for it to start
Leaf through The Hammer Trinity comic book. It was designed specifically for this play, so you’ll see the characters in the book manifested right in front of you. The show starts where the story in the comic book leaves off.
During each intermission
The cast will be interacting with the audience. Spend time with them and tell them how you felt about the scene and what you’re anticipating. This way your input directly shapes the play as it unfolds.
After the first act
It’s stretch time. Jay Gutierrez, a certified personal trainer, leads a group stretch to loosen the audience up and free up their imaginations. After sitting so much, he suggests stretching out your hip flexors and IT band. Watching a suspenseful play can also create tension in the jaw.
- For the hip flexors, take your thumbs and place them on the two dimples just above your glutes. Press hard, lean back, and breath heavily.
- For the IT band, sit down and cross your leg above your knee at the ankle. Lean forward and hold in a stretch. Then switch legs.
- For the jaw, move your mouth around in a series of circular movements to stretch it out to release the tension.
And just for fun, maybe dance around and move — all of this ultimately helps loosen you up and helps your imagination flow so that you can immerse yourself into the play.
After the second act
Get your grub on. It’s dinner time. Pop in at Books and Books next door and fill your belly before the final act. You might even be able to grab a bite with one of the actors.
After the third act
Play’s over! Go home and decompress. You’ve had a long day.
And if even after these incredible tips, you’re STILL not willing to sit through the whole thing in one sitting, fear not. The play is also sold in parts, so you can watch each act on a different day if you so choose.