Last night, I walked out of The Speakeasy Society’s latest show furious.
It had been awhile since I had since The Kansas Collection’s first chapter, The Key, and weeks since I was rained out of being able to see the second chapter, The Axe. But last night, we were able to get to the remount of The Axe, and finally continue our journey of helping either the Patchwork Resistance or The Scarecrow’s Armed Militia.
But by the time it was over, and we were making our way back to the lobby, I couldn’t help but feel the anger rising within me. In fact, my first words as soon as we got back were “I am absolutely furious,” much to the confusion of those around me.
I wasn’t angry for any reason that was detrimental to the show itself; I was angry because of how it expertly emotionally manipulated me in such a way (without me even realizing it) and then completely turned those emotions against me. In those twenty short minutes, I was heartbroken, compassionate, and then completely broken. Damn the Speakeasy Society for being SO GOOD at what they do.
The moment you step foot into the lobby, you have things to see; letters to Dorothy litter the tables. Recruitment lists have dozens of names, some crossed out, some with other markings. An old poem is nearby, with the note “Memorize by May” attached to it. Sewing machines are abound, and you can’t help but wonder if there is a deeper story here.
The gatekeeper, or the conductor (if you ask), wanders the room.
“I am your guide on this journey…I can nudge you along, but you won’t give your answers. Because there are no wrong answers…only consequences,” he said to many guests before they went in.
Once your number is called, you are made to line up, in order, in front of everyone as General Jinjur makes sure you are ready. Within moments, you are in the back, as she questions you intensely, her gaze never wavering, trying to find the traitor (if there is one) in the midst. Her intensity radiates during her entire performance, and she almost intimidated me into lying, and just telling her what she wanted to hear.Soon, we are whisked away to meet the reason we are there: Glenda, the good witch (but not so much anymore) and her prisoner, the one and only Tin Man. And this is where the performances go up to eleven…
While us four audience members were huddling in this tent, surrounding my instruments of interrogation and easy to clean up tarp on the floor, we were told a story by all involved; from Glenda, from the Tin Man, from General Jinjur, and even the Lion. They told of Dorothy, and her triumph over the Witch of the West, of why the Tin Man joined her, of what he had lost before and how she saved him.
During this time, I was seated directly next to the Tin Man. I was in his presence when I saw the light leave his eyes when he talked about his dark past, I saw the tears roll down his cheek as he talked about Dorothy, I could see the love in his heart when he said he only wanted her back.
I have seen a lot of shows, but I have never seen performances as powerful as the ones that took place within that tent. Every single actor, no matter their role, was absolutely captivating, and completely enthralled me within their performance. The Speakeasy Society clearly has some of the best actors in the business, because I wanted nothing more than to give the Tin Man a hug, to tell Glenda it was going to be OK, and so on.
But then, close to the end, everything changed. I won’t spoil it, but my entire world was turned upside down. Everything I had just felt, every sorrow, every emotion, was ripped out of me in an instant. I felt violated, in a way, and I had my heart broken. I don’t think I have ever hated a character more than I did with one from The Axe last night. Their actions really, really hit me hard.
That is how you know a show is good…when it leaves you with such strong emotions. Even this next day, hours after the fact, I can still feel it within me.
So, yes, I walked out of The Axe furious…but only because The Speakeasy Society was able to illicit these emotions from me so strongly, and in such a way that I didn’t think was possible.
And goddamn, do I love them for it.
The Axe is only running this weekend. However, rumors of a remount of this chapter, and the first, are swirling about, especially since the third, The Door, is already sold out. I am telling you, you do NOT want to miss these shows. They are incredible, they are powerful, and you will love them.
