A bold, lively take on the Western genre that serves up grit, razor-sharp humour and games aplenty.
Hold onto your hats and be prepared to take centre-stage in this rip-roaring romp through the Wild West. This is immersive storytelling at its best with a dynamic and thoroughly engaging cast, all of whom seem to revel in the opportunity to flex their impressive improvisational muscles.
The journey begins at the door of a converted pub in Elephant and Castle, where the audience is welcomed by jovial townspeople and invited to refresh themselves at the bar. From the moment they are ushered in, audience members are split off into smaller groups and introduced to the characters and plot. The town of Olverton has just been obliterated by a devastating sandstorm and married couple, Mayor and Sheriff Olver, are keen to enlist any help they possibly can for the daunting task of rebuilding the town. Meanwhile their son Francis, appearing in the guise of a minister, invites audience members to confess their sins, before gathering everyone together for a communal singalong. The service is then abruptly interrupted by Sheriff Olver, who accuses his son of being a notorious bandit who recently took part in a train robbery that left several people dead. Despite his protestations Francis is promptly arrested and dragged down to jail.
From this moment forth, audience members are divided up again, with some being bundled into jail as accessories to the crime, while others are deputised by the sheriff and expected to play a part in tracking down the other culprits who are still on the loose. No matter if you’re taking turns to interrogate captured criminals, deciphering coded messages, or drawing up plans for the new town, as an audience member it’s almost impossible not to get caught up in the action. The plot comes to a head when Francis must stand trial and audience members act as jurors and witnesses. When Francis is found guilty of murder, loyalties are called into question and his parents clash over the matter of their son’s innocence.
After a short interval, it is revealed that Francis and the other imprisoned train robbers have escaped from jail and are planning to descend on the town and wreak revenge. Now audience members must enlist local townsfolk to help defend the town from the outlaws by any means necessary. Whether it’s a dynamite-laden elephant being strategically placed in a strip club, or a family of feral children building a giant pendulum out of snakes and beavers, it seems no idea is too madcap for Mayor and Sheriff Olver. Despite some successes and the best efforts of the people of Olverton, as narrated by a ubiquitous yet unseen Deputy Dick, some of the bandits still manage to break through the defences and their arrival is imminent. At this point the audience are urged to arm themselves and a thrilling shoot-out rapidly ensues. Finally, father and son come face to face in a climactic stand-off that culminates in an entirely unexpected plot twist.
This is theatre that will hold appeal for gamers, role-players, and escape room enthusiasts. Those who prefer to take a back seat will undoubtedly have a memorable evening, but if you make the effort to enter into the spirit of the story you will have a far more gratifying experience. The cast did a stellar job in bringing their characters to life, but the narrative felt a little diffuse at points. Sam Skoog was charismatic as Francis Olver, treading a fine line between roguishness and youthful vulnerability. Owen Jenkins was a commanding presence as Sheriff Olver, while Grace Dunne struck a balance between warm amiability and stern assertiveness as Mayor Olver.