After months of searching, The Scarecrow King finally has Dorothy Gale in his clutches. All is right in Oz, and the Emerald City is in an unprecedented time of peace…or so we think.
The storm is on the horizon…can you see it?
Last Thursday, I attended Chapter Four of the Speakeasy Society’s fantastic Kansas Collection, titled The Invitation. Building off the previous three installments, the audience, as members of the Scarecrow’s armed militia, reported back to HQ to receive their new assignments. It was a time of peace, after all, so there is no need for a militia any longer…right?
Over the last several months, participants in this alternate reality game taken directly from Baum’s “Oz” novels have seen as series of events unfold before their eyes based on their own actions. Each show, while often done in small groups, has been vastly different, depending on the choices the audience makes, no matter how small or inconsequential.
I’ve mentioned this before in previous reviews of the Kansas Collection, but this series is the first time I have honestly felt like my choices did matter; an answer or reaction can unlock a new path, and allow you to explore a new line of the story.
In my own doings, I am part of the Patchwork Resistance, a force opposed to the Scarecrow King, and one that wants Dorthy put into power in order to restore the land of Oz to its former glory. Others have fallen in line with the Scarecrow King, and still others have joined up with Glenda (as in the Good Witch) for Revolt.
Which of these sides is right? Which of these sides have Oz’s best intentions at heart? Well…that’s all just a matter of interpretation.
In any event, back to Chapter 4: The Invitation. After reporting back to the very same place I was recruited from, Private Joe Files (played with zeal by the ever subtly hilarious Zan Headley), my initial intake officer, caught me up to what I was doing back there again. Before long, I was brought elsewhere, where my new assignment began…and where the story really began to unfold.
I recapped a bit of the “choices” aspect of the previous shows above for good reason: these choices, these memories you have of the past matter in this show. The secrets you know, the side you are aligned with…they dictate the conversations you will have during your newly assigned task.
However, don’t let that scare you; newcomers to the story shouldn’t feel left out, as I attended the show with TWO people who had not seen the previous chapters, and they STILL had a fantastic time. The characters they interacted with did a marvelous job of catching them up to speed, and allowed them to make their choices just the same (That said, rumor has it Speakeasy Society will be remounted the chapters again next year, so if you haven’t seen them yet…do! They are great!).
I don’t want to give much away about what happened within the time I was present for my new assignment, but I will say two things. One: the very act of audience’s choices and differing storylines (whereas, scenes may differ slightly for people, depending on their actions) is very subtlety explained in an off-hand line of dialogue that I really, really enjoyed. Kudos to them for bringing something up that I am sure will come into play later on.
And two: two of my absolute favorite characters from Baum’s novels were present: Jack Pumpkinhead and Tik Tok. While I did spend a little bit of time with Jack, most of my time was with Tik Tok.
Nikhil Pai’s portrayal of him was unbelievably great. He had a sort of neurotic nuance to his performance, with his nervousness and general feeling of being a bit ‘off’, that really was incredible. I’ve connected with characters in immersive shows before, but Kansas Collection seems to hit me more often than others. First, with the Tin Man in Chapter 2, and now, with Tik Tok. I really felt for the guy, and all he has been through. His genuine worry and fear struck a cord, and left me wanting to help him out anyway I could…long after I left.
Michael Bates’s Jack was also very good, but alas, I only spent fleeting moments with him before I went with Tik Tok. But those moments were very memorable, and I do hope to see him again. And of course, John Henningsen’s Lyman, our ever present guide into the land of Oz, is always a delight to encounter again and again during these journeys.
To me, the Kansas Collection is one of the best, if not THE best, storylines in immersive theater today. They never fail to impress, and their storytelling skills are top-notch. As much as I love seeing these shows, I always hate leaving, because I know it will be some time before the next chapter rolls around.
The show runs through Friday, September 15th, and I urge you to see it. It’s fantastic, and you will not be disappointed. Tickets are $20, and you can find them at: https://tinyurl.com/KansasCollection
