Are you tired of living your life, hanging onto threads? Trying to scrape enough just to get by, and provide for you and your loved ones? But most importantly…have you ever wanted to visit another world? The Speakeasy Society has the perfect escape for you…one that may just lead you to the merry ol’ land of OZ.

This past weekend, I attended Chapter 1, The Key, of the Kansas Collection. I have always loved the world of OZ, having first been introduced to it through the film, and then some of the novels. However, what the Speakeasy Society has done has created an alternate reality game that takes participants deep into the world, and troubles, of OZ.

This first chapter was an introduction to said world; a colorful tent has been constructed on the edge of town, and the owners of said tent would like to recruit you to the cause. The Scarecrow’s Armed Militia needs your help to find the bringer of chaos, to make sure she doesn’t ruin what the Scarecrow has so carefully built in her absence.

Right off the bat, I have to say that this was my very first Speakeasy Society show and absolutely fell in love with what they are doing. Fellow HorrorBuzz writer Taylor Thorne and myself were lead to this mysterious tent where the Gatekeeper greeted us. After some interesting banter about what we there for, and answering a moral question, we were lead inside to meet Private Joe Files, who had us fill out a form while he explained more of the conflict.

From there, we were separated, and were both recruited to the cause…or, so one of us thought.

The acting was superb on all levels here, from the second we arrived to the tent all the way through to the end. I absolutely felt like these characters were alive. Hell, I even FELT for them when they explained of their troubles and woes. It was incredibly interesting to me to hear so much about a land I thought I knew. Sure, OZ is depicted as mostly bright and cheery in the film, but to hear what a dystopian place it had become in Dorothy’s absence was incredible. Special shout outs to The Gatekeeper for perfectly setting the tone as soon as we met him, and to Phil Darling, my own person recruiter, for opening my eyes to the larger conflict.

Most immersive experiences often tout that your choices matter within the world. Having done so many of these types of things, I often feel like while this may be true to some extent, in the end, the story you get will largely be the same.

However, with The Key, I truly felt that my choices mattered. I was told beforehand that my actions, no matter how big or small, would affect the story’s outcome and determine what happens next. Every conversation, every answer, every moment I spent with someone, I felt that it all built up to where I was going to wind up. At the end of our respective journeys, both Taylor and I compared notes…and were surprised to learn that we have vastly different experiences within the tent.

The Speakeasy Society has done a wonderful job of setting up the conflict between the Scarecrow’s Armed Militia and the Patchwork Army. I did feel as if I was thrust into the middle of a war, and that tough decisions were to be made. Though they were only talked about in hushed whispers, the looming presence of the Patchwork Army was felt at every turn. And, while every guest pledged allegiance to the Scarecrow’s side…some of us may have learned the truth from within.

But to further the point of “your choices matter,” I was told very specifically to talk to a certain person and say a certain thing. On the other hand, Taylor was told to not trust this same person, and stay far away from him.

I went out of my way to talk to him. But I didn’t have to, if I truly believed the Scarecrow’s mission. Taylor, however, had her own choice to make. Should she trust what she was told, and stay away? Or should she follow me, and meet with him?

These types of decisions weighed heavily throughout the show, and truly did make it seem like our actions would take us down different paths. It seems like we will have to choose where our loyalties lie soon, and all of OZ will be changed by it.

In all, I absolutely loved The Key, and I am very excited to see Chapter 2, The Axe, next weekend. Tickets for The Key sold out quickly, but there are still a few left for The Axe. No previous knowledge is required to attend, of course…but as I mentioned, your story will differ in some ways from those who first went into the tent in Chapter 1.

I definitely recommend you check this out if you’re looking for a fun, immersive world to jump into this coming weekend. Kudos to the Speakeasy Society for crafting a brilliant story so far, and leaving me anticipating the next step.

And as they told us, just remember, there are no wrong answers. Only consequences.

For more information on the Speakeasy Society, visit them online at: www.speakeasysociety.com

To purchase tickets for The Axe, please visit: http://theaxe.bpt.me/