Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – NO. 9 delivers soulful, nourishing experiences in which reality and artifice are blurred through conversation

• By drediman
• October 28, 2023
• No Comments

Last night, I trekked out to Williamsburg to take in No. 9, a new immersive experience from the folks at Roll the Bones. Immersive theater has long asked participants to reassess what constitutes theatrical entertainment. And in No. 9, Roll the Bones has taken Shakespeare’s notion of “all the world’s a stage” to the next level by turning meaningful interactions into theater (and vice versa?), thereby blurring the boundary between reality and artifice.

How to begin to describe the experience? In essence, the thoughtfully constructed production transports audiences back in time to one of three very specific settings – a porch in Asheville, NC in 1986; a camp in Twentynine, CA in 1993; or a treehouse in Redding, CT in 2007. As you enter through a speakeasy-like entrance, you’e handed a lost letter from one of these scenarios from the past. In effect, the retrieved artifact serves as a sort of portal back to one of the aforementioned settings, where groups of up to two at a time are whisked for strictly one hour (you’re given a watch that alarms when your time is up). During my time at No. 9, I was able to visit two of the environments (Asheville 1986 and Redding 2007).

Once at your destination, you’ll encounter a small gathering of less than ten in mid-conversation. The effect is initially disorienting. Almost immediately, you’ll notice that the distinction between actor and audience member is irrelevant. As drinks are poured and once you get a better lay of the land, you’ll likely find yourself engaging in real, free-flowing conversation with both the host and their visitors. With topics of conversation ranging from the mundane to the deeply existential, the whole experience for me was organic and unforced – at all times, I felt I was in a safe space to comfortably express myself. Although a part of me wished to have learned more about my hosts and their respective background (to give more context to the gathering), I nonetheless treasured the simple opportunity to forge satisfying connections through the admittedly dying art of conversation.

Although I don’t want to spoil the experience for prospective visitors, I will say that the net effect of these experiences was akin to being somewhere between a therapy session and an intimate party. Additionally, the design elements for both were meticulously considered and realized, and the transitions into and out of these spectral visions of the past were elegant and seamlessly handled (attendees will be able to refuel before, after, or in between experiences at The Dead Letter, the production’s in-house restaurant and cocktail lounge). In summary, my time at No. 9 was soulful and nourishing – I emerged rejuvenated, senses alert, and present to the world.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

NO. 9
Immersive Theater
Roll the Bones
1 hour (without an intermission)
Currently booking through December 2