Review Rundown: A Cleric, A Robot, and A Holiday Walk Into A Bar
Three very different offerings in this week’s look at recent immersive work across theatre, VR, and boxed experiences
I know what you’re thinking: HOW DOES A HOLIDAY WALK INTO A BAR, NOAH?
Just roll with it, I’m on deadline. (Ed. note: He’s always on deadline. -Third Person Noah)
This week we’re shaking off the rain here in LA long enough to get three reviews out as the winter season calms down a little after a hyperactive start.
This time out you’ll find participatory theatre in NYC, a belated holiday present, and a VR piece that Patrick says is “truly a premiere, top-of-the-line VR experience that easily rivals any AAA title out now.”
Okay then. Let’s get to it.
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The Fantastical Fellowship: Final Quest For The Crisis Crystal XXVII — FRIGID New York
$25; New York City; Through February 9
You can tell what sort of show The Fantastical Fellowship: Final Quest For The Crisis Crystal XXVII (hereafter Fantastical Fellowship) is right from the title, if you’re familiar with any high fantasy media whatsoever: books, video games, movies, etc. It takes inspiration from pretty much all the classic fantasy heavy-hitters, in particular classic video games like Final Fantasy. It also takes inspiration, more than anything else, from puns. This show is full of them, from blink-and-you’ll-miss-it clever to the sort that stop the show because the whole audience is groaning. They’re very, very funny.
Roughly speaking, the show is the story of a magical young woman who is trying to save the world with the help of her friends. The audience takes the role of her “ancestral spirits,” guiding her decisions in a choose-your-own adventure style. More than that is not necessary to understand the show and to get the humor. Unfortunately, the show seems to think you need to understand a lot more. There is entirely too much exposition and the show slows down while we get plot dumps. It also seems to know the pacing suffers, so the exposition is rushed, leading to an unsatisfying compromise. The show is at its best when it leans into the comedy, and we don’t actually need to know what’s happening in the plot to laugh at the jokes. Fantasy is silly, and fans recognize that. When the show tries to have a coherent plot (or worse, its occasional attempts at a heartfelt message), it stumbles. For what it’s worth, real video games sometimes have this issue too. But there you’ve got a “skip cutscene” button that live theater is lacking.
Pacing and exposition issues aside, the cast is delightful. They’re working so hard to play multiple characters, make the jokes land, change script tracks based on the “ancestral spirits,” and incorporate occasional improv-style suggestions into the scene. They’re charming to a person and they fully commit to the delightfully ridiculous bits, which is necessary to make them pay off. The audience was having a blast, and so what if a joke sometimes doesn’t work or a reference flies over a head? In three seconds we’ll be on to a new pun.
If any of this sounds fun, head down Below St. Mark’s and let this delightful cast cast a spell on you.
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— Penelope Ray, NYC Correspondent
Lux Brumalis Holiday Countdown — Birch House Immersive
$50; Boxed experience; Holidays 2023
I’ve heard a lot of good things about Birch House Immersive over the years from the NoPro crew, but haven’t had the opportunity to check out any of their work. So when Patrick, our Chicago Curator, connected me with them for a boxed experience, I jumped at the chance to see what Birch House was getting up to.
I chose not to learn more about what the experience was, but when I opened the box after the holidays, it became clear it was a sort of advent calendar celebrating nine days of Lux Brumalis. Lux Brumalis is a (fictional) holiday created by Birch House, and tied into an in-person experience from December 2023.
The Holiday Countdown begins with a 12-page short story explaining the origins of Lux Brumalis, which hinges on the importance of the Light and why it should be shared. It’s a simple message, but a fitting one for the holiday season. Each of the nine cubby holes in the box has an item or two and an activity related to Lux Brumalis that emphasizes a piece of the story. Most of these activities were focused on remembering the last year or setting intentions for the upcoming one. Whether it’s in person or in an at-home experience, I just can’t connect with this type of thing.
I wasn’t able to connect with it here either, but that’s not Birch House’s fault. If that is something you vibe with, I think you may get more enjoyment out of the Holiday Countdown than I did. From the short story to the prompts that relate back to it, to the handcrafted feel of much of the box, and a few surprises along the way, there’s quite a bit going on here to like.
While I would have preferred something more narratively focused, what is here feels nicely aligned with making it through the dark winter months, the holiday season, and the possibilities that a new year can bring. I also appreciated getting a taste of what Birch House has to offer and look forward to seeking out more of their work in the future.
–Kevin Gossett, LA Reviews Editor
Retropolis 2: Never Say Goodbye (Ep. 2-4) — Peanut Button
$24.99; VR: Meta Quest or Steam; Now Available
Having been framed for the murder, robot Private Eye Philip Log finds himself locked up in Police HQ. Yet Log has no time to waste in jail, as the crime boss The Magician moves to take over Retropolis’ criminal underground. With assistance or hindrance from an expansive cast of dynamically vivid characters, Log must use his skills to not only break out of jail but confront the specters of his past.
From the mighty VR game studio Peanut Button, Retropolis 2: Never Say Goodbye is now available in its entirety, with the last three episodes bringing the sequel to a close. Players don the fedora of Log, who must interact with other characters and objects to solve puzzles in this noir mystery. Essentially Retropolis 2 is a Rayond Chandler novel, Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, and the point-and-click game Escape from Monkey Island mixed together to near perfection, creating a fantastic immersive experience.
The experience’s strongest elements are its narrative and production design. Retropolis 2 is a compelling mystery; I simply HAD to know what came next. Sprinkled throughout are moments of heightened dramatic staging, effectively utilizing all the dramatic gravitas VR can offer. A highlight is when Log is drowning his sorrows in booze, the entire environment reacts, submerging the players into empathizing with Log’s pain. Also, Retropolis 2’s supporting cast infuses a palpable vitality to the experience, the standout character being Betty2. This Good Girl Friday type is brought vividly to life by Neta Roth’s dynamic vocal performance and Peanut Button’s fantastically fluid animation. And once again it’s Yuval Levi’s moody, muted score that expertly ties this experience neatly together.
As for Retropolis 2’s puzzles, a majority rely on players’ observational skills to notice what’s interactable and make connections. Dramatically this heightens my engagement, allowing me to truly become a keen eyed Private Eye. Yet the connections players are required to make can be obtuse, a different problem than being too subtle. As a minor spoiler, I was surprised how often a puzzle’s solution involved a wrench Log carries throughout these episodes. Compounding this problem is there’s no visual similarity or in-game cue on when the wrench must be used and the wrench typically remains out of sight in Log’s inventory.
Retropolis 2: Never Say Goodbye is an engrossing, gripping narrative VR experience, the sequel being a true testament to Peanut Button’s creative growth. It’s a shame this experience is buried in Meta’s App Lab store, as it’s truly a premiere, top-of-the-line VR experience that easily rivals any AAA title out now.
– Patrick B. McLean, Chicago Curator & Remote Experiences Editor
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