Something evil has moved into the historic Los Angeles Theatre in downtown LA. The extravagant new immersive show ANGEL OF LIGHT has opened its doors to all who dare enter. Taking advantage of this stunning location, we are transported back to 1930’s Hollywood where vocalist Rota K. Preston is about to make her ill-fated stage debut. A small note, she is cursed with the vocal powers to summon evil. With impeccable production, razor-sharp Dolby Atmos sound, a huge, very talented cast, and pristine costume design the show dazzles the senses. The downside is that this experience has too much story to tell. This left us in awe of what we experienced, but hopelessly confused.
The experience begins as we are ushered into the opulent lobby of the historic Los Angeles Theatre. Crystal chandeliers float in an ornate atrium as foreboding drone music fills the air. The sublime lighting design here hints at a Heaven/Hell dichotomy with neutral yellows hovering like a soul caught at the center of a deadly struggle. A creepy nun in black, a Hollywood starlet, an usher, and a smattering of other skulking figures glide down the stairs to our left and address the crowd. Due to tech issues, we could not hear all that the usher said. However, what we could pick up was that we were there for the debut performance of vocalist Rota K. Preston.
We are then guided forward into an inner lobby space that had a stairway to the left, leading deeper into the theatre. From here we were held, then pulsed in groups, through the first walkthrough portion of the experience. Religious figures, nuns and priests all dressed in black, warn us of coming dangers. Ok, what dangers? Yes, this is a haunt. Dangers are a key ingredient. But where the heck are we and why? Other scenes seem to foreshadow the aural powers of a demonic entity that is attempting to crossover. The finale for this portion is a beautiful, but nonsensical space of technical wizardry.
Halftime
We survive the first portion of the experience and are deposited into a stunning lobby and bar. This is the halfway point where we are offered a chance to take a breather, have a drink, powder our noses, and perhaps even interact with the ghosts of this ornate and mysterious space. This is where the attraction becomes a bit immersive.
The talented cast here wanders around the glorious setting, attempting to reset the sense of place and time. It is, apparently, the night of the debut performance of Rota K. Preston at the Los Angeles Theatre. Various characters wander, including various ghostly socialites, an usher, and a few from the theatre’s maintenance crew. The idea, it seems, is to put the audience in a paranormal space of spectral repetition.
The Second act and finale
After resting and getting a drink, patrons are to queue up for the second portion of the experience. While it was clear that the experience was in two parts, some clear signage would have helped to remind people that there was a lot more ahead and that they needed to get in line for it.
Just off to the left, at the far end of the space we are in, is the line for the second part of the attraction. We queue up in a tight space awaiting admission into a second walkthrough. A projection plays on a wall that seems to make little to no sense. A missed opportunity for more direct storytelling. After a short time, we are admitted into the second section.
We wander into the dark and are again confronted with a beautiful collection of scenes that seem to have no connection. For the most part, we are now at the Los Angeles Theatre on the night of Rota K. Preston’s fateful debut. We get a tour of the backstage area, along with a walk through the dressing rooms. Then we end up back in a cemetery with more religious figures who warn of demonic dangers to come.
Finally, we arrive at the big ending scene. After the foyer is full, we the audience are ushered into the jaw-dropping scene inside the actual theatre. Filled with a foggy haze, we pour into the cavernous performance space and are invited to take a seat. On both sides of the audience are menacing figures draped in black. Jade-tinged lighting and digital projections create a murky sense of unease while the crystal clear Dolby-Atmos sound drones another haunting tone of doom.
Finally, Rota K. Preston takes the stage and within seconds, all hell breaks loose. This moment seemed to flirt with notes of Black Swan and the new Suspiria, equating the power of dance and production to that of witchcraft or the demonic.
The bad news is that ANGEL OF LIGHT is a gloriously produced, yet baffling experience. The good news is that, with a few relatively easy changes, this show could work. So much is made of the fact that we are in the Los Angeles Theatre and rightfully so. This is a breathtaking gem of a performance space that is fortified with years of ghostly history. But it is difficult to then convey a story that spans years and different locations if we have already been given a time and place by the theatre. The walkthroughs seem to take us to other times and places but without being told this directly, it leads to confusion. Simple title cards would help to establish a new time and place for these portions. The detailed story is smushed into a hybrid walkthrough/stage show that demands the audience do their homework and prepare for the experience. The truth is that audiences can’t be expected to do this.
Kudos must be given to the show’s creators for striking out and attempting to tell a fresh story as opposed to one lazily based on an existing IP. With that though comes a brand new set of hurdles. This includes establishing a very clear time and place. This is even more important if you will be telling a story that includes jumps in time and location. There is a fun story here but in its current state, it’s muddled.
ANGEL OF LIGHT is a spectacular production weighed down by that sinking feeling of confusion that prevents the audience from really connecting with the show. I simply cannot say enough about the superb costume design, the excellent sound and lighting, and the stellar performances from the massive cast. There are no notes for them. I just truly wish I had understood what I was seeing when I was seeing it.
