Interludes

VIEWPOINTS – Indulging in some immersive theater: BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN & ODD MAN OUT

• By drediman
• February 8, 2022
• No Comments

I recently had the opportunity to indulge in a pair of immersive theatrical experiences. Here are my thoughts on them.

BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN
Houseworld Immersive
Open run

Last week, I trekked out to Bushwick to bask in the world of Bottom of the Ocean (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED), the latest creation from the folks at Houseworld Immersive. Designed to be performed for only an audience of five at a time (it’s experienced either in pairs or as a solo journey), the production is surely one of the most intimate theatrical experiences currently out there. Through a series of fantastical and intensely personal encounters, the piece invites its participants to look inward and dig deep beyond the noise of daily life (to the “bottom of the ocean”) to soulfully reflect on one’s existence. The resulting multi-sensory experience – which liberally uses elements of ritual – is as intimate as it is inwardly expansive. In turn soothing, playful, creepy, and terrifying, Bottom of the Ocean delivers a poetic and uncommonly varied experience that casts a sustained spell for roughly two hours. The exquisitely designed production is meticulously executed by a small but richly invested group of actors, who deliberately pace your experience so as to maximize saturation. Additionally, as with Houseworld Immersive’s previous projects, the show’s creators continue to have an uncanny ability of incorporating site specific locations (in this case, the subterranean chambers of a church) into the fabric of the show. A week later, I’m still thinking about my journey.

ODD MAN OUT
Pitch Black Immersive Experiences at The Flea Theater
Through February 18

A few days later, I attended Pitch Black Immersive Experiences’ production of Odd Man Out (RECOMMENDED), which recently returned to The Flea Theater for an encore run. The unique piece – which on the surface takes the form of a flight from New York to Buenos Aires – tells the melodramatic but ultimately moving story of Alberto, a blind man who travels back to Argentina after having established his career as a musician in New York. During the flight, you learn more about his personal history through a series of vivid if somewhat clunkily assembled flashbacks. Like Bottom of the Ocean, Odd Man Out engages multiple senses – namely sound, touch, and smell (taste is also engaged in a special VIP experience that includes consuming a pre-flight meal) – to immerse audiences in the saga of Alberto’s life. Specifically missing is the sense of sight (by way of an in-flight sleep mask), which puts you squarely in the shoes of Alberto, hence further immersing audiences. The most impressive aspect of the production is the evocative sound design, which is funneled in through a 360º binaural audio system. Overall, the effect is not unlike one of those 4D films that one comes across at museums or amusement parks. Although it’s a novel enough experience, I came away from the hourlong Odd Man Out not quite fully convinced of its merits as a genuine theatrical endeavor.