I’ve made a terrible mistake. I’ve been unfaithful to my wife, Maggie. I tried to make it right, breaking things off with my mistress, Margot, but nothing’s ever simple, least of all her. Now Maggie’s missing, and Margot keeps sending me these pictures. It looks like skin, rope, and…is that blood? My phone chirps to life with a video chat. It’s her. Margot. She’s not alone. It’s time for me to see the consequences of my actions. All I can do is watch, beg, and play her sick games. deadplay

This is the premise for Keight Leighn and Elisabeth Stranathan’s DeadPlay (<<DEAD.PLAY>>), a strong shift from the ethereal, self-explorative pieces Leighn and Stranathan have produced in the past. Where a show like BedrumPlaii and its sequel encouraged participants to look inwards and connect with their own strengths, DeadPlay is a much darker, almost traditional story of betrayal and repercussion. It is Fatal Attraction meets the modern telecom era, conducted entirely online and over text messages – the hopelessness of watching the story unfold while trapped on the other side of a screen is palpable.

Leighn and Stranathan offer multiple tiers of engagement for each solo participant, from just the 45-minute play itself up to additional mailed packages, letters, and texts outside the primary experience that enhance and deepen the narrative. It’s entirely up to the audience member how they react to the story, and Leighn and Stranathan are skilled improvisors that will shape the narrative to fit every direction their guest takes them in. The whole of DeadPlay is conducted online, from the seeming comfort of your own home, and yet there is an oppressive terror that surrounds the experience that makes nowhere feel safe.

In BedrumPlaii 2 and others like it, Leighn and Stranathan have played these enlarged versions of themselves, open and welcoming and responsive to their audience. Here, they take on characters, both demonstrating their incredible talent for performance. The production is still abstract, in a way, improvised based on the reactions of their solitary guest, but both actors are unrecognizable within their roles. Leighn, as Margot, deftly portrays her madness; she feels like a barely contained burst of anger, orchestrating the terror on the screen with a wry smile. Stranathan counters her as Maggie, my innocent wife, sobbing and struggling to comprehend what’s happening to her – what my actions have done to her – to heartbreaking effect. Both Leighn and Stranathan bring a sincerity and realism to their roles that stuns me; I feel responsible for what’s become of both of them, and my mind races to find a solution that I realize, with a dawning dread, is completely out of my control.

DeadPlay is a welcome addition to the immersive theatre landscape, a play that engages its audience before, during, and even after the camera shuts off. That the entire experience is conducted online allows for a more comfortable exploration of my own “character” in the piece; I don’t feel as pressured to perform as I would if I was faced with this scenario in person. That said, the stakes still feel as high as they would were Leighn and Stranathan right in front of me, even more so, in fact – the separation between us that the online aspect provides makes me feel even more helpless in a dire situation. Leighn and Stranathan have crafted a classic revenge story combined with modern twists and flair that excites and dismays in equal parts.

Long after I’m disconnected from Margot and Maggie, I keep checking my phone, waiting for that ping. Did I do the right thing after everything I’ve done wrong? Is Margot still out there somewhere, waiting for my next move? I have no way to know, but I keep my phone on, and one eye checking over my shoulder, just in case the past comes calling again.

DeadPlay has concluded its run. Check out our Event Guide for more horror and immersive entertainment throughout the year.

If you like the above article and want to find more like it, make sure to join our community. If Facebook is your favorite, follow us there and become a part of our groups for Immersive Horror fans and/or Immersive creators. We’re active on Instagram, posting evocative imagery and informative stories to promote our reviews and recollections; follow us there. You can even find us on twitter; click here to follow. For those who want to explore deeper, we have a vibrant Slack community with new event alerts and immediate ticket sale announcements; click here to join. And subscribe to our event calendar to get emails for all or specific events (look for the link right under the calendar)! Finally, we have a newsletter that comes out once a week; click here to sign up.

deadplay deadplay deadplay deadplay deadplay deadplay deadplay deadplay deadplay deadplay