Review Rundown: The One With Vampires & Inflatable Mazes

This week’s rundown finds the crew solving mysteries over cocktails in London, getting meditative in an inflatable maze in Pittsburgh, and taking on an three-hour-long vampire themed theatre piece in LA.

Looking for more? Last week’s Rundown is right here.

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Architects of Air: Daedalum — Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
Pittsburgh; Run completed

Rising in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, a ufo-esque inflatable structure loomed enticing young and old to explore its cavernous interior. This was Daedalum, the latest luminarium created by the UK company Architects of Air, in a recent installation sponsored by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

After removing your shoes and sharp objects from your person, you enter through an airlock and are given a brief explanation of the design of this particular luminarium, themed around Daedalus, and the labyrinth he designed to trap the Minotaur. But that is where the narrative ends, and you can just explore the beautifully illuminated spaces at your leisure or find a comfortable nook and relax. Calming ambient music wafts through while adults relax and children explore the interconnecting balls of light, or the spaces which evoke some of the amazing sacred architecture of the world, albeit in a more stylized fashion. Evidently, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust would also bring in groups to have yoga classes in the structure to lean into this calming energy.

This was not my first experience with Architects of Air, having been in “Mirazozo” at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2010, and the energy of their installations are often calming oases in the middle of bustling urban centers. While this particular iteration of their installations has closed, they are frequently back touring North America with one of their luminariums. So if you ever see an odd, silver bouncy castle type structure in the heart of your city, make it a point to step inside and soothe out.

–Martin Gimenez, Correspondent at Large

fangs! — Downtown Repertory Theater
$75; Los Angeles, CA; through Sep. 4th

If Halloween shows happened all year-round, I would be such a happy camper, so when I heard about fangs! so early in the season, I was thrilled. The more I read about this production, the deeper I fell in love with the idea. So now that we’ve seen the show, it’s time to share whether or not it lived up to my excitement.

As someone with a passion for vintage and antiques, a show at Heritage Square that takes place in the rooms, on the gorgeous antique furniture was a must-see! I adore when shows use locations like that in unique and immersive ways. The characters worked so well in this space, and I loved seeing them use the unique characteristics of the buildings to reinforce story points. Being in those spaces is so unique and the novelty of it alone is just so special.

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I also want to take a moment to applaud the cast. These incredible folks wear a lot of hats throughout the course of the show, and they wear them all well. Acapella harmonies in another language are not easy and they made it seem like they’ve been singing this song together for decades. Not to mention the dancing, the monologues, the fight scenes, you name it, they did it! The performances were so stellar, absolutely top-notch performances from the townfolk of Strevoya.

But I also feel that it’s necessary to point out some other aspects of the show that were less fantastic and more confusing. The large group scenes take place in the church and are just phenomenal. But once you leave the church, the show feels long. And at a run time of almost 3 hours, it is.

At the end of each scene, characters choose 3–4 audience members to take somewhere. There may be more method to the madness, but it felt like standing in like to get picked for kickball. And I will tell you, I was overlooked practically every single time. Which ultimately ended up with me being escorted by crew members into rooms where the scene was halfway through. Then once the scene ended, another kickball lineup that I was not chosen for. So the other leftovers and I would wait until someone collected us.

The number one thing that is communicated with you as an audience member is to wear comfortable shoes, so you already know you will be walking, which is absolutely fine, plenty of shows require walking. The problem with this particular show is that each of the walks feels like dead air on a radio station. There didn’t feel like any sense of urgency or rush or process between moving from space to space (which could absolutely be a safety precaution as the walkways are very precarious in the dark). The scenes feel so far between as most of your time on this show is spent walking to and fro and then waiting for scenes to start or to be told where to go next.

Over all, the story is strong, the performances are incredible, the sets are next-level perfection, but the pacing makes it hard to focus on anything besides the silence between the scenes. The narrative is relatable and tangible, and very moving, but the setup felt long and tied up in bureaucracy and ledgers, which made it hard for me to connect emotionally. Most of the show is a fly-on the wall level of engagement, until the kickball line at the end of the show where the cast acknowledges you. Well, some of you. The show seems to have a lot to say, it just can’t seem to spit it out.

I would not recommend this show to younger crowds who might not have the patience to linger in the silence between scenes (after one scene, while waiting in silence, a young couple proceeded to fondle the antique garment on display in the room, while leaning on one of the antique sofas), but otherwise it’s an evening of entertainment for couples and singles, and friend groups alike.

— Briana Roecks, LA Correspondent

Mr Fogg’s Murder Mystery–The Inception Group
£60; London; accepting bookings through October 2023

The six detectives swirled their flutes of sparkling, scarlet liquid and leaned in a little closer to ponder the question that had been plaguing them: Was the pregnancy a red herring? Suddenly, one stopped, and addressed the others with a start. “Wait, what pregnancy? Did I miss something while I was in the bathroom?”

This sort of question is probably inevitable at Mr Fogg’s Murder Mystery, a foray into immersive theatre by the popular themed cocktail chain Mr Fogg’s, owned by the Inception Group. The plot is simple enough: you are a friend of famed explorer Philleas Fogg, who has arrived at his Mayfair townhouse only to discover that there’s been a murder, and you must help solve the case–while downing a few of Mr Fogg’s signature cocktails.

The plot can be a little convoluted, with some questions left unanswered–for instance, why are you visiting Fogg’s house when he’s not at home? And why has Scotland Yard recruited you to solve a murder, anyway? But these can be quickly shrugged off, especially as you enjoy the tremendous amount of one-on-one interrogation time your group (smaller parties, like mine, will be paired with strangers–this can be part of the fun if you let it) gets with the cast.

As Fogg’s is first and foremost a cocktail bar, libations are a major selling point of the experience, and if you’re a fan of innovative cocktails, these do not disappoint. Expect unusual flavor combinations and showy presentations. There are also non-alcoholic options, so everyone can get in on the fun.

I won’t give any spoilers, but the mystery itself is full of red herrings, false leads, and subplots–and whether that’s a good or bad thing is up to you. The cast does an admirable job, though, and it was only afterwards that we realized how much they’d been improvising as opposed to what was baked into the plot. While the overall effect may have room for improvement (and as the inception Group is planning further immersive events, I’m very much looking forward to seeing what they do), to Mr Fogg’s Murder Mystery, I say “Cheers!”

–Ellery Weil, London Correspondent

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