I walked into 8 Million Protagonists not knowing what I was going to see. What I saw was my life displayed in front of me like a mosaic. True to it's title, 8 Million Protagonists didn't follow any one story but rather displayed moments that New Yorkers live every day. It truly captured the endless possibilities that make up this remarkable city.
While I appreciate all the comedy that New York inspires, I was especially moved when Iñaki Baldassarre portrayed the role of a confident transgendered woman. I can't quote her perfectly from memory, but she said that if in her last moment of life she has her surgery to become the woman she knows she is inside, then she will know that this was a good life. Who can't relate to a harbored self trying to be honest with themselves and everyone they encounter on their journey through life? For this I say that this production deserves another Off-Broadway run.
The eclectic cast of artists added so many layers of story telling and made this a very stimulating experience for the audience. Incorporating comedy, drama, dance, acting, video projections, evolving props and a narrator that occasionally joined the cast for a cameo or two. I am a New Yorker and I deeply relate to the sense of humor, dreams, sarcasm and the many commentaries on life here in the Big Apple.
What you're left with is that regardless of any hardships or discomfort this massive melting pot brings, you really can't imagine being anywhere else...
...that's the right attitude New York.