Sharon Eberson-- OnStage Pittsburgh
Jul 25, 2024
And as someone who shies from horror, particularly the gory stuff, I was unfazed that the experience has a claw in that realm yet leans more into the spooky, the mysterious and the sensual.
The Mercer family is having a party, and they want you as their guest. But beware. A lot more than mingling will be asked of you.
The immersive, interactive, haunting experience of Hide is happening on a hillside home in Highland Park. Title aside, Vigilance Theater Group asks of attendees that they do anything but hide, for they are essential to the chiller theatrics unfolding at what ostensibly is a family gathering.
Spooky is the vibe as you are greeted on the porch by a mysterious specter (Allie Lampman-Sims), who warns that danger lurks within, and your help may be required.
From the moment you cross the threshold, you are thrust into a family dynamic that is tense, to say the least.
Dad Brian (John Feightner) is obviously unhappy to be there, bullying his wife and daughters, while wife Kimberly (Tamara Siegert) struggles to be a gracious host. There is a lot of belittling of feisty Tabatha (Maddie Kocur), there with friend Ann (Marisa Postava) and partner Leah (Bradleigh Bell). Leah’s amiable dad Desmond (Tyler Ray Kendrick) is married to Tabatha’s sister, Marigold (Sarah Dugan) … and there you have a snapshot of the host family.
All around in the front rooms’ tight spaces are family photos and sayings that may serve as hints about skirmishes within the family.
Soon after entering, a TV sitcom that has been playing is interrupted by reports of a string of gruesome killings in the neighborhood. The news puts a chill in the air and inspires some seemingly outrageous theories.
Nerves are frayed, and shouting matches break out. Truths may or may not be revealed during the course of individual conversations. The Specter may have an important mission for you, and you will be asked to make consequential choices … But perhaps I’ve already said too much.
The Hide experience will morph from night to night, depending on audience engagement and how actors choose to shape conversations. There are rules about when to participate and when to observe, what rooms are open to guests and what doors must remain closed. There also are times you may be guided by a crew member, to help with the flow of the story.
Having experienced a preview of Hide, the new work by Sean Collier and directed by Brooke Echnat, I was equally engaged as a participant and observer. And as someone who shies from horror, particularly the gory stuff, I was unfazed that the experience has a claw in that realm yet leans more into the spooky, the mysterious and the sensual. The vibe reminded me of another Vigilance immersive, Blood Moon, about an off-campus party …
Oops. Did I say claw? Sorry. Must be those rumors of a murderous beast lurking nearby …