I Pledge Allegiance Combines Politics and Necromancy

I Pledge Allegiance begins ominously, in a pitch black hallway. While downtown Los Angeles bustles just outside the heavy door, a dozen or so unsuspecting patrons awkwardly sign waivers and fill the silence with half-hearted chuckles. A stone-faced security guard looks on, unamused at first, then impatient, then outright hostile. The tension is palpable.

And nothing has even happened yet.

This is merely a pre-show, of sorts, introducing guests to the conflicting emotions they may feel during I Pledge Allegiance, the politically-charged immersive experience created by Chris LeVan and Tristan Wells. The show, writ large, is an exercise in old-school horror, letting subtle moments stretch and breathe, allowing guests to mentally sabotage themselves as they wait nervously for the other shoe to drop. It’s these moments of silence, complemented by superb acting and classic horror techniques, that come together to form one of the more unique immersive experiences in recent memory.

However simmering the intensity is, the highlight of I Pledge Allegiance is LeVan’s performance as Jonathan Barnes III, the deranged uber-patriot at the heart of the show. His emphatic pleas to make this country great again, his gentle interrogations of his guests and would-be accomplices, they all help to uncover the whole of Barnes’ psychopathy. The character speaks as if he were a politician himself, every word clearly rehearsed, spoken from a gigantic plastic smile.

Contrasted with Barnes’ manic energy is his subdued associate, Amunet. She slinks silently around the room in an elegant dress, offering cryptic asides while he, in a tank top and slacks, continues his idealistic ramblings. The juxtaposition of the two reflects the diametrically opposed ideals communicated in the show; where Barnes is grounded in reality, a political zealot, he summons the help of Amunet to mystical ends, looking to use the Ocularion to literally raise the dead.

While I Pledge Allegiance is a minimalist experience, the single room in which it takes place is deceptively expansive, with lots of ground to cover. When Barnes gives guests only eight minutes to complete a series of tasks, escape room-style, it’s easy to get lost in the vastness of the space, to say nothing of the various red herrings planted throughout. That being said, the interactivity of the escape room elements heightens the stakes, making it easier to assume the role of Barnes’ potential followers. Necromancy is no one-man job, so guests must seek out puzzle pieces, search every corner of the room and eventually get their hands very, very dirty in the name of helping Barnes fulfill his crazed destiny.

With each successful completion, Barnes grows more and more enthused. He may make lingering eye contact, or even embrace his guests as brothers or sisters, and as he does so, reality begins to fade away. It’s hard not to root for him, since attendees are already complicit in his crimes. Guests may not agree with his methods, but against their better judgment, they begin to get the feeling that maybe his heart’s in the right place.

I Pledge Allegiance combines engaging performances, challenging puzzle elements and timely subject matter in one of the best immersive experiences to be offered by first-time creators. While I Pledge Allegiance’s run has ended for now, the words and sentiments of Jonathan Barnes III still linger. For information on potential future installments, go to www.ocularion.com