The Speakeasy Society’s dark Oz experiment, The Kansas Collection, has returned with its fourth chapter, The Invitation. This chapter offered us something unique: a chance to consciously choose our allegiances in this ongoing Alternative Reality Game (ARG).
For those of you just tuning in, The Kansas Collection takes place both in our universe, and the one imagined by author Frank L. Baum in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. We first joined the nuanced characters of the Collection after Dorothy Gale had left Oz, leaving the wise Scarecrow in charge, the Wizard disgraced, and Oz in turmoil. You see, the Scarecrow and his Armed Militia are very anti-magic, believing that magic and trickery were the root cause of Oz’s problems. Yet, as is often the case with fresh despots, the Scarecrow saw no difference among black magic, bogus magic, and the good magic practiced by the likes of Glinda. All magic was banned and numerous factions emerged, including two resistances: Glinda’s Revolt, which is rooted in violence and brute force; and the Patchwork Resistance, which is mired in secrecy and subterfuge. All of them want Dorothy back in Oz for one reason or another and you, the guest, must choose a side. Complicating matters are wonky time mechanics; time flows differently in Oz than our dimension.
In the first chapter, The Key, we were invited to join the Scarecrow’s Armed Militia. Some of us actually enlisted, while others of us were led into the Patchwork Resistance. In the second, The Axe, we were exposed to the Revolt. In the third, The Door, the Dorothy we’d heard so much about was finally exposed and taken back to Oz. Depending on what side you’re on, she either returned or she was kidnapped. (She’s the Lyanna Stark of Oz, really.)
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Though each chapter has been quite short — only about 15–20 minutes each — they’ve all been intimate and limited to one, two, or a handful of guests at a time. This allows for a fair amount of one-on-ones and emotional intensity. Depending on what track you’re on, you might even know phrases that unlock extra dialogue. Sometimes, characters give you various objects to hold onto for later. At least once, we’ve been tasked to go to a second location on a mini-scavenger hunt. As typical of Speakeasy Society shows, the acting and staging is quite good, which makes it easy to slip into the story. Each chapter is also buffered by an opportunity to mingle with other audience members, which is great for checking in with other guests who may be on different tracks. Videos and other intel pad the weeks in between new shows.
The Invitation followed this same format. We began with two characters we met via The Key—the ever enthusiastic Lyman (John Henningsen) and Private Joe Files (Zan Headley)— in a place we’d been before. A video we were sent prior to the show seemed to almost hit a reset button, as though one act had ended and we were about to embark on a completely new mission. After some exposition, we were able to meet two new faces, both of whom added insight into the political dynamics of the region, and foreshadowed an upcoming wedding that seems more shrouded in dread than bliss. These two—Jack Pumpkinhead and Tik Tok—were a true delight. Their extremely divergent personalities and mannerisms were excellently conveyed via actors Michael Bates (Pumpkinhead) and Nikhil Pai (Tok). Remember how I said it at first felt like pressing the reset button? It revealed itself to be more like waking up from a dream only to realize you’re still dreaming.
What was particularly interesting about the fourth chapter, however, is that it allowed me the option to choose my side for the first time. Sure, I had been told I was choosing sides all along, and maybe I did a little of that in the way I elected to answer questions. I’m a real-life atheist, and I think that led me to answer questions about magic in this fictitious world the way I might in my real life. But this aligned me with Scarecrow, even though I never really liked the guy (I’m also not much for authority figures). This time, I was allowed to make an explicit choice. But — and this I think is the beauty of this series — it seems like I can also decide if I was lying when I picked it. My true dedication to my chosen side will become apparent only when I make yet another choice in the fifth chapter. This is refreshing in a sea of immersive experiences where my choices actually don’t seem to matter at all, or where my paths seem entirely arbitrary.
If you’re thinking, “hey, this sounds fun, but I’ve missed every chapter thus far,” rest assured that you can and will be caught up to speed upon request, and you should still have a good time. I entered The Invitation with just one other guest, who had not seen any of the previous chapters, and he emerged wanting to go to more shows in the future. There’s time for you to leave this dimension yet.
The Invitation plays through September 15th in Northeast Los Angeles.
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