Everything Immersive > No Proscenium > Trailheads (6/8/22)
Trailheads (6/8/22)
by Chris Wollman
A weekly feature pointing you towards the current experiences that have people talking.
For people who always pregame before a historical walking tour...
Murder at the Malden Bank: Mystery Pub Crawl [MALDEN, MA]
Sponsored by the Malden Chamber of Commerce as part of the city’s Summer Festival Program, Incantrix Productions leads you on a circuit pub crawl along the trail of the first bank robbery homicide in American history. As you pop in to no fewer than five participating bars and restaurants whose sites hold historical significance to the event in question, discover a variety of characters holding vital information regarding the fateful murder of a local bank teller in 1863. Complete their assignments, earn their trust, and hear the tragically human story at the heart of this shocking crime.
Why we think you’ll love it: Offering both an easier “Story Mode” where investigators need merely interact with the performers in order to reach the conclusion and a more challenging track aptly named “Challenge Mode” that includes optional written puzzles to solve (at no extra price), the night is perfectly balanced whether you want to dive into the mystery or simply take in the history between rounds.
For people who are still proud of that A they got in American Lit...
An Evening at Gatsby’s [DENVER]
Why has Jay Gatsby, perhaps more than any other literary icon (aside from Alice), so often captured the imagination of immersive creators around the globe? Maybe because everyone knows Gatsby always throws one hell of a party. This time around he invites you to Denver’s Bar Nun, where Audacious Immersive is staging a gamified take on the classic source material full of rumor and intrigue. As guests explore the various rooms of the eponymous host’s grand mansion, you will have the chance to interact with the friends, lovers, enemies, business partners, and hangers-on that make up his wide-circle of supporting characters that all have one thing in common: everybody has an opinion on Gatsby. Finding the truth behind the rumor is up to you.
Why we think you’ll love it: With clues to uncover, relationships to forge, and lies to see through, this version of Gatsby promises real agency and a fresh, appropriately sordid take on the classic American novel.
For people who made their parents save soda cans and toilet paper rolls for arts and crafts...
Your (Un)Natural Garden [LOS ANGELES]
Boldly staged amidst the natural beauty of Descanso Gardens, artist Adam Schwerner has added a decidedly offbeat yet environmentally conscious splash of color to the sprawling botanical park's otherwise green surroundings (admission to the park includes access to the installation). Towering archways crafted from recognizably recycled materials, thoughtfully interactive tableaus, and surreal sculptures complete with their own BlueTooth powered soundscapes litter the landscape along the winding trails towards the installation’s home base. The Sturt Haaga Gallery and the Boddy House have been transformed, room by room, into unique staging areas for Schwerner’s playfully arresting tactile creations, encouraging visitors to look, listen, touch, and crawl through the art.
Why we think you’ll love it: Imbued with an obvious love and respect for the natural world, recycled material sourced from landfills, and a different thought-provoking concept brought to surreal life in every room, this technicolor spark of joy honors, rather than obscures, the natural beauty that surrounds it.
For people who clapped when WALL-E saved that plant...
The Last Clockwinder [STEAM VR]**
Playable on Oculus Quest 2 and other Steam-compatible VR headsets, this beautifully designed narrative puzzle game from Pontoco Studio has created a serenely engaging, self-contained space to explore where the scientific method is celebrated and curiosity is rewarded. You are Jules, a "Clockwinder" tasked with saving a research station built in the heart of a large tree known as The Clocktower from its impending destruction. To aid you in this complicated endeavor is an inexhaustible staff of adorable robot clones floating around the facility, used to automate any motion or activity you may need in an increasingly intricate ballet of physics, crafting, and cause and effect as you race against time to save the Clocktower, all while piecing together the greater mystery of what happened to your predecessor.
Why we think you’ll love it: Currently boasting a 96% positive rating on Steam thanks to its varied puzzles, depth of storytelling, compelling voice acting, and a whimsically rendered vision of how nature and technology can exist harmoniously side by side.
**This listing was suggested by community member Patrick McLean. Thanks, Patrick!
Have an upcoming/ongoing immersive experience that has you buzzing? Point it out to us through pitches@noproscenium.com with the subject line "Trailheads" and we might include it in the next issue!