The Willows<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\nThe Willows<\/em> is a modern twist on a murder mystery evening. Inspired by movies like Clue<\/em>, this event invites you to an intimate evening with a group of strangers. Over the course of two hours, a mystery unfolds around you. Fix wants the experience to be fun, interactive, and have the joy of discovery. Rene expands, \u201cIn past experiences, we had more of a focus on themes; this event will have more of a focus on narrative than ever before.\u201d Fix continues, \u201cFor the past two years, we have pushed thousands through CreepLA. With The Willows<\/em>, we want it to feel smaller, more personal.\u201d He hopes this will ultimately become a location to celebrate birthdays, a date night destination, or a hangout for groups.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
A 1918 Mansion<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\nTo envelope you in this narrative, they have found an incredible ten-thousand square foot mansion. Built in 1918, this mansion itself will become a character. Montgomery\u2019s excitement shows in his voice. \u201cThis mansion is well lived in; whenever you buy an old home, it has a ton of character; there\u2019s definitely an energy you feel.\u201d This location was a huge inspiration for them when writing The Willows<\/em>.<\/p>\n\u201cIt\u2019s really great to create a story based upon the space which you fill,\u201d Fix tells me. \u201cWe are bringing in a lot of ambient lighting, candles, and an amazing grand table. But the furniture of the rooms and in the halls provides much more than we could pull off.\u201d He tells me a family of six has lived there since 1988, providing it with the character we will see. There\u2019s something magical about using a space that has its own identity already, instead of trying to create one through set design. \u201cWe really want guests to feel transported, and immersed, in a fully realized environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
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A Strange Family<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\nAfter entering this mansion, guests will meet The Willows, a family of seven and a butler that appear as if time stopped for them. \u201cYou\u2019re entering a very specific, and very strange environment.\u201d The narrative is set in modern times, but the family itself has their own time period. Rene describes it as a modern throw-back. This anachronistic environment is sure to instill a feeling of unease and weirdness to the audience, but remains relatable. The house really helps with that, because it feels lived in and home-like.<\/p>\n
The Willows have invited you to a celebration. Throughout your time, you will discover why they\u2019re celebrating\u2014and more importantly, how<\/em> they celebrate. We were told to keep this mystery for now, but this part has specifically interested us.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Psychological, Not Scary<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\nWhat kind of story will this be? Rene assures us this won\u2019t be a horror story, but rather, a mystery. This experience will be perfect for anyone who is too scared to attend normal horror events. Montgomery states, \u201cI\u2019m excited for our CreepLA fans to check this out, but I\u2019m also excited for a new audience to experience it as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since the narrative focuses on a family, one of the main themes will be of purpose and roles that you play. As with any family, the story dynamic will change tones depending on your interactions. Montgomery describes it as \u201cbizarre, uncomfortable, and sometimes very comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Similar to CreepLA, they want to focus on themes of uncertainty, secrecy, and what lies beneath the surface. These elements will be used to drive the narrative and help the audience understand the characters, instead of being used to facilitate a scare. \u201cSome audiences don\u2019t want blood and guts, and we understand that. We are focusing more on psychological depth and relationships between characters. If we can deliver that to our audience, then we\u2019ve done our job.\u201d<\/p>\n
They also inform us that although it will be strange and eerie, it won\u2019t be campy and it won\u2019t be extreme. They want to create an experience that can serve as an introduction to what immersive theater can be. Rene concludes, \u201cWhile there is a darkness in The Willows, we want this to ultimately be an enjoyable celebration.\u201d To us, this sounds like a fun, albeit odd, celebration with a strange family.<\/p>\n
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