Based in Chicago, IL, Candle House Collective has put a special twist on immersive entertainment. Not only do they host events local to their area, but they also regularly put on immersions that take place over the phone. On the whole, Candle House Collective is offering up evocative, innovative stories that are accessible to those near and far.
I had the good fortune to do not just one but two Candle House phone immersions over the past month, each from their UNDER THE BED series of shows. Each time, Candle House provided instructions ahead of our calls which helped to establish the universe of each story well before I picked up the phone. Of particular note was how easy it was to click into their narratives even though they provided little up-front information other than logistics and where/how I should be when that mysterious “Unknown” popped up on my Caller ID.
“Good Morning” was the first of my two experiences for UNDER THE BED. There’s no way to describe this experience other than a highly effective, interactive crossbreed between A Prairie Home Companion and Limetown. Alwick, the show’s narrator and main character, is the sassy, sad, uncancelled Garrison Keeler I didn’t even know I had been craving. Much of the storytelling in “Good Morning” is centered on Alwick’s hometown in Ohio. As you get a thorough history of this town through profiles of its most notable people, you also get a detailed portrait of Alwick—a radio host and the town’s last remaining resident. “Good Morning” effortlessly combines news segments, playful games, and musical interludes into a rich, deftly woven story about what it means for a person to miss something even though he may be the reason it’s gone in the first place.
While “Good Morning” was bursting with dramatic flair, my second experience, “Next Time,” was a laugh riot in sound and synchrony. “Next Time” set itself apart from “Good Morning” both in terms of tone and in the amount of interactivity I needed to have with my surrounding environment. Less a story and more of a make-your-own-adventure sort of thing, “Next Time” gives you a taste of the bureaucracy you’ll likely meet when you’re getting processed into the afterlife. No pearly gates await you here, just a friendly enough case worker cum customer service agent on her first day.
It’s easy to spoil the conceit that really made this show work for me, but suffice it to say your narrator will walk you through your memories and the feelings that are attached to them with such grace that you’ll surprise yourself with how much you’d be willing to share with a stranger over the phone. “Next Time” was a great companion to piece for fans of The Good Place. It’s got a steady flow of zingers and a curious internal philosophy about the afterlife, making it as charming as it is thoughtfully constructed.
Without question, I enjoyed what Candle House brought my way. Each show drew me into the fold with efficiency and precision. Both hours I spent “inside” Candle House’s experiences were densely packed, but I never missed a beat. Superb writing was matched with superior acting, making it possible for Candle House to dance along the fine line required to pull off an effective phone immersion.
It’s important to include here, though, that you’ll get the most out of your Candle House show if you have a working smartphone and a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Across the board, Candle House shows its participants a good time. Expect to be wowed by effusive narrators and creative narratives that will have you laughing one moment and on the verge of sympathetic tears the next.
Candle House Collective tells human stories in inhuman ways but nonetheless keeps the whole process exceedingly humane.Their telephone-based immersive shows typically run $25, meaning it’s a wildly affordable option for those who are new to the community or for those who are looking for something a little different outside of haunt season. Given the top-notch acting in both of the experiences I was able to do with Candle House Collective, I find it hard to believe that any other theater company would be able to beat the quality for this price-point. Should you want to participate in a Candle House Collective experience—and, believe me, you want to—sign up for their email list on their website, candlehousecollective.com.
