I saw this last week and while it wasn't as bad as those reviews I can say that they are mostly accurate. The biggest issue is that this show doesn't realize is that while intimate one on one experiences are nice, and a backbone of immersive theater, you must actually construct an engaging an interesting show for the audience when you are not in those experiences.
My partner got 5 or 6 one on ones right away when the show started. I got 3 and then spent most of the show wondering around looking for something to do. With sleep no more, there are drawers to open, and large scenes to see. Here there are essentially two spaces the performance space that houses a bar and stage (much like the room you enter in Sleep no more to begin with) and "Backstage" where most of the experiences happen.
Essentially you are left wandering between the two. There is little to nothing to do when you aren't pulled in with a character. Whats worse is that even when you do get an experience, these stories and encounters don't seem to tie much together. My partner who had many more experiences than me but didn't care much more for the show.
The best thing I can say is that the band that plays in the main bar is excellent and some of the performers are very talented.
I know that they don't have the budget of sleep no more, but I wish that they had been to expand a bit more than they have. I kept thinking of Then She Fell which really has mastered immersive theater on a smaller scale. That is not the case here. Overall it felt long even for 90 minutes. Also, stay away from the punch at the bar and the sangria. They are both awful.
If you are in the neighborhood, Luigi's pizza, South Bar and Sidecar are all awesome! Far better than the show that brought me to the neighborhood!
