Sharon Eberson
Aug 24, 2019
In immersive theater, there is up-close and personal engagement of individuals and the group, and a big chunk of your appreciation is your willingness to surrender to the experience.
Welcome to Moonside,’ Vigilance Theater
In immersive theater, there is up-close and personal engagement of individuals and the group, and a big chunk of your appreciation is your willingness to surrender to the experience.
That's how I entered the former Lava Lounge for "Welcome to Moonside" by Vigilance Theater. This is the second go-around (and my first) with Vigilance, after the debut production "Hollow Moon" in November.
From Kickstarter to opening night, there was a lot of information on the Internet about the fantasy thriller experience, but there is still much unsaid, so that the central mystery is still revealed in doses, with you help. Participation is essential to appreciating this fantasy thriller, set in “the cosmic home base of a group of Spirits tasked with preserving life on Earth.” The Lava Lounge space, already eerie as an entertainment venue, has been transformed into a suitably otherworldly Spirit spot.
The original script by Sean Collier is clearly inspired by bad tidings on Earth, but things among the Spirits aren't too great, either. They need our help ...
While moving the story forward, a cast of distinct characters engages on a micro-level — there is some exceptional improving and engagement among the cast of Bevin Baker, Jennifer Dallas, Anna Failla, Karen Forney, Hazel Leroy, Ashley McKinney, Tamara Siegert, Saige Smith and Vanessa St. Clair.
When you enter, the point is made that this is not an escape room, but you will be asked to resolve a problem, a big one, and that will involve listen closely to instructions and remembering — memory is a key to unlocking the mysteries of Moonside.
With its latest production, Vigilance Theater -- producers Dana Custer and Ariella Furman, director Renee Rabenold and Collier -- bring a pop-culture sensibility to the immersive experience that is already a part of the Pittsburgh scene, with Bricolage Productions an international leader in creating large- and small-scale works.
In the case of “Moonside,” the welcome mat is out to a fantasy experience in which you will make important decisions that will affect the future of the Spirit world and humankind. How you engage within that world is up to you, but rest assured you will have some talented and creative artists to guide your way.
"Welcome to Moonside" is at 2204 E. Carson St., South Side; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays through Sept. 8. Must be 18+; ticket-holders will receive instructions via email. $50 at www.vigilancetheater.com or www.artful.ly/vigilance-theater/store/events/18169.