![\"Afterlife](\"https:\/\/Becomeimmersed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/73274206_1974769049334946_8641716628981022720_n.jpg\")
\nShinbone Theatre Company\u2019s Afterlife Anonymous<\/em> ushers in up to twelve participants as newly-deceased ghosts looking to give up their haunting addiction and ties to the living world in favor of transcendence. Set up like a typical AA meeting complete with coffee and candy, Afterlife Anonymous<\/em> lets guests participate however much, or little, as they choose. The actors sit amongst the guests in a circle of openness and vulnerability, truly placing everyone on even footing. There is a loose narrative throughout the course of the 45-minute meeting, and the group is split up for one or two different exercises, but guests only have the ability to affect several small side-plots rather than any large storylines. For guests who are shy about stepping into character, The Ferryman who helms the onboarding process hands out brochures for new members of Afterlife Anonymous<\/em>, each containing a cheeky blurb about how that guest died, sure to garner some chuckles during introductions. It is not explicitly said, but guests who want to put on their acting hats can definitely make up their own tragic backstories as they wish.<\/p>\n
Designed to mimic an AA meeting, Afterlife Anonymous<\/em> keeps the sets, props, and lighting design relatively simple. Guests sit in folding chairs while the neon lights buzz above them, only a small table with the aforementioned coffee and candy in the corner acting as the set. There are a few dramatic supernatural moments during which the lighting and sound enhance the scene; either providing an intense and dark otherworldly presence or a soothing respite from purgatory in shades of white. The simplicity of the setting helps guests be present in the intimate moments of the meeting and hone in on the story Afterlife Anonymous<\/em> is trying to tell.<\/p>\n Afterlife Anonymous<\/em> has concluded its run. Find more information on Shinbone Theatre Company on their website<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>. Check out our Event Guide<\/a> for more immersive entertainment throughout the year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cYou know, I\u2019ve never seen her laugh,\u201d he said, pointing to the veiled woman in black. \u201cShall we try?\u201d The woman raises her black shroud with gloved hands, revealing a pale face beneath; her eyes are sunken and dark, as if she\u2019s seen a lifetime of sorrow. She raises her eyebrows at us deliberately, as…<\/p>\n![\"Afterlife](\"https:\/\/Becomeimmersed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/74626983_403888816958768_2018376188052897792_n.jpg\")
\nThere have been several immersive experiences recently that place the audience in the role of ghosts. While Give Up the Ghost<\/em><\/a> asks difficult questions, and The Shadow Space<\/em><\/a> acts as a murder-mystery, Afterlife Anonymous<\/em> takes a more lighthearted approach and sees participants appreciating the little things in life and encourages the acceptance of change. In a stream-of-consciousness exercise, guests face a partner and recount the things that brought them joy in life. In this moment, I was reminded of the tiniest things to be grateful for when the experience ended; these things that are most precious to us don\u2019t go away, they stay with us in our memories to forever cherish. By taking on the topic of death in a mostly comedic way, Afterlife Anonymous<\/em> attempts to ease the fear that comes with change \u2013 in this case, transitioning from living to dead, as well as from a ghost in purgatory to moving on to the next plane of existence.<\/p>\n![\"Afterlife](\"https:\/\/Becomeimmersed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/75019074_433429967377404_7034658356375584768_n.jpg\")
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\nThe cast of Afterlife Anonymous<\/em> is full of energetic and talented performers who all play off each other and the audience very well. Brady Richards shines as Milton, the cheerful leader of the meeting who struggles to keep things under control. Richards is delightfully peppy and sets the carefree tone of the experience perfectly. Dana Benedict as the stony Penelope must be commended for keeping a straight face throughout the proceedings, especially when being persuaded to laugh at terrible jokes. Benedict is so subtle in her stoicism that it becomes a genuine relief when she begins to lighten up a bit, brightening the room. Alex Weber and Zippy Cardozo\u2019s bickering couple from the 1950s adds a touch of gravity to the meeting, as Cardozo in particular emotionally recounts what brings her there. Alex Elliott\u2019s Sarah acts as a perfect stand-in for the audience, asking all the questions we didn\u2019t know we had about the world that creators Leland Frankel and Jonny Perl have built. Her character arc is a true journey, from denial to anger to acceptance. The last character attending Afterlife Anonymous<\/em> is comedian Roberto, played by John Ryan Benavides. It is difficult to not fall in love with Roberto, as Benavides portrays him and his idiosyncrasies with deadpan humor and chaotic energy. The talented cast keeps the show pushing forward, but knows when to let the audience have their moments to play.<\/p>\n![\"Afterlife](\"https:\/\/Becomeimmersed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/73040858_984007235266391_4691626135878893568_n.jpg\")
\nAfterlife Anonymous<\/em> is a cute and intimate production that excels in reminding guests of the joys in their life. By keeping the story contained and forgoing elaborate sets, creators Frankel and Perl make sure that the focus is appropriately on the acting and the message conveyed. Even without strong audience agency, the set-up allows for plenty of interaction between guests and actors, and provides a playful and loving look at the afterlife. Maybe being a ghost isn\u2019t so bad after all.<\/p>\n