Last night, as we emerged from Scout Expedition Co.’s debut show, I realized just how wrong I had been about what I thought it was going to be. Not that was a bad thing, not by a long shot; because not only was it incredibly captivating, but it was also an amazing, new way to tell a story.

Speaking of story, the one behind The Nest is pretty simple: Josephine Annette Carroll  is dead. And as her next of kin (as strange as that might be), her belongings are now yours. However, they are all located in a storage unit somewhere in Los Angeles, and it is up to you to go through it all.

But here is where the simple story takes a complicated twist; Josie’s story unwinds into a tangled web of heartbreak, sorrow, and joy as you go through her possessions, crafting a narrative that was much more complex than I ever could have imagined.

The Nest is different than every other immersive experience we’ve done before in the way that there are no ‘live actors’ within the space with you. Instead, Josie’s story unfolds through a series of cassette tapes that you come across, highlighting the highs, and lows, of her life over the years. And while the actors may not physically be with you during your time in The Nest, they very much come alive through these recordings, making you feeling every emotion they do through their narration. Of course, the bulk of this heavy narrative lifting falls on Josie, played by Mackenzie Firgens.

Firgens’ portrayal of Josie is truly an accomplished feat. Without the benefit of body language, eye contact, and everything else that comes along with a physical actor, Firgens is able to convey everything just through the sound of her voice. Now, I listen to (and produce) a lot of modern day audio dramas. It may not seem like much, but I know how difficult it can be for an intricate series of emotions to be conveyed using just someone’s voice. Firgens is a master of this, and commands the presence of the room without actually being in there. There were many moments where we just sat in the dark and listened, enthralled by the sound of her voice, so engrossed in her story.

And again, the story is truly top notch. From start to finish, hearing about Josie’s life, in her own words, was incredible. It was one of pure joy to absolute heartbreak; the story of someone who had high aspirations for their life, had to settle for what they got, and lashed out because of it. There were moments of laughter, moments of surprise, and even moments where we were on the verge of tears.

As much as Josie was the lead character in this show, so was the space itself. The ‘storage unit’ that the entirely of the story takes place was just as twisted and complex as Josie’s story itself. It felt like an actual storage space, with things crammed in there that might not make sense at first, but are full of potential as you go on. It is cramped, stuffed to the brim with items, and you only have your trusty flashlight to explore it as you head deeper into the dark.

There were two incredible “wow” moments for us as we went through it all. While I won’t spoil them, one has to do with a reveal of Josie’s passionate hobby that she hoped to turn into her career; opening a particular cabinet opened our eyes to things we had casually overlooked before hand. And the other was an ending set piece, which really blew our minds.

Much kudos has to be given to the production design, as it really felt like a winding path through someone’s life; one that needed to be unraveled to truly see who they were. Every corner led to a new surprise, a new discovery. It felt almost voyeuristic to go through this stranger’s belongings, but the more we discovered, the deeper we wanted to dig.

Story paths quite literally unlocked the more we searched, as the discovery of a tape might have also lead to a key to open up a locker, a door, a box. It felt like a live-action version of the old LucasArts point and click games I loved as a kid, and it left me feeling incredibly nostalgic.

While The Nest does have some elements of an escape room within it, playing it as such would be a detriment to the story. This isn’t a place you want to rush through and escape from in the shortest amount of time. This is a place where you want to savor every moment, to take your time during the 45 minutes you are in there, to discover more about who Josie was. Of course, if you DO get stuck on a lock or clue for whatever reason, there is an ingenious “hint” system involved. A ringing phone, and a helpful county clerk, are your lifeline for that reason, playing into the story even more.

The tapes hidden throughout are such a great story telling device. I can’t even begin to tell you how many we found, and how giddy we were when we played each one like it was a brand-new Christmas morning gift. To our surprise, we were told after the fact, that there were even MORE we didn’t discover. However, you don’t need to hear them all to get Josie’s story. Because of your explorations within The Nest, you get to dictate the story you hear; you’re not meant to hear all of them. However, it of course makes me itch to go back and find the ones that are REALLY hidden.

Just a word of warning; don’t go in expecting a supernatural tale or scares. Despite the sometimes creepy atmosphere, this is an intimate portrait of a woman, told through a damn good story. And trust us when we say it is definitively worth it.

All told, The Nest truly was an incredible experience from start to finish. Jarrett Lantz and Jeff Leinenveber’s skills definitely shine through here, from storytelling to set design to the overall package. For their debut, they really impressed us with what they had accomplished.

Though the show runs through May, both their initial run AND their extended one have already sold out. However, Scout Expedition Co. hopes to add additional show dates in June, and if they do, you definitely do not want to miss out on it. I cannot wait to see what they come up with next.

For more information on Scout Expedition Co., and an extended run of The Nest, visit them online at: scoutexpedition.co