If you lost your memory and had the option to only receive the good memories back, would you accept it? Or, would you want to receive all of your memories, both good and bad? Phoenix Tears Production’s RECOVERY: COLD CASE (COLD CASE) left me pondering these questions while creating a captivating and emotionally charged show all within a single Zoom link.

Phoenix Tears Productions is an immersive theatre company that has excelled in both virtual and in-person productions. While I have yet to experience an in-person show, Phoenix Tears Productions has continually blown me away with how high of a caliber their virtual shows are. Prior virtual shows include “Recovery” and “Posthumous” (check out our review here!), which both took place in the same universe as COLD CASE. In this world, individuals may sign up to reside in a utopian afterlife after they die. As part of the Recovery process, the individuals start off as “blank slates” and are shown memories to help them relearn who they are.

COLD CASE follows two blank slates that are going through the Recovery process. One blank slate can gain memories “normally” while the other believes whatever information is relayed to her as being her memory. Our job as the audience is to learn about these individuals from certain memories and assist them in their decision to choose to enter the Posthumous system.

I absolutely loved being back in the Posthumous universe. Phoenix Tears Productions has done a tremendous job at creating elaborate worlds and dynamic storylines within that realm. With 7+ unique endings, COLD CASE excelled in providing a different experience every time one goes the show. I had the opportunity to go through COLD CASE twice and enjoyed entirely different, yet equally exciting experiences. The endings for both shows left me feeling opposite emotions, but overall, proved to be quite satisfying. Since COLD CASE can be quite interactive, the audience truly drives the show towards the ending they are meant to receive, both rehearsed and unplanned.

COLD CASE boasts a marvelous cast. Due to the the unpredictability of the audience’s interactions, the cast has proved to thrive in the improv department. These individuals are all strong actors and are well-versed in each of their characters, as well as the implications of the Posthumous world. I adored interacting with the entire cast, as they were one of the driving forces behind such a successful show. Each character managed to push me towards feeling very strong emotions, as they all acted with strong purpose.

COLD CASE’s immaculate storylines, powerful cast, and multiple endings all contributed towards making COLD CASE an extremely successful show. Phoenix Tears Productions has truly conquered using Zoom as a medium and should consider themselves pioneers of virtual immersive theatre. While this run of COLD CASE has come to an end, Phoenix Tears Productions is doing a remount of their show “Recovery” for the Orlando Fringe Winter Mini-Fest on Zoom. I highly recommend checking out that show for another look into the world of Posthumous.

For more information, visit Phoenix Tears Productions on Instagram!