Otherworld Theatre, known for its sci-fi and fantasy works, takes us into the winter solstice with Tales From the Wandering Wyvern Inn: A One-Shot Immersive LARP.
If you are a fan of escape rooms, mystery, and/or theater, this show is a LARP dream and a wonderful introduction to the world of live-action role-playing. LARPING is a fun, creative, healthy way to escape reality, and Otherworld also enhances the evening with an escape room element (as opposed to the standard role-playing experience of sitting in a basement around a makeshift table, a la Dungeons & Dragons). There are lights, sounds, costumes, and set pieces. And of course actors—or NPCs (non-player characters) as they’re called in this LARP universe.
Tales From the Wandering Wyvern Inn: A One-Shot Immersive LARP Through 1/29: Fri 8 PM, Sat 5:30 and 8 PM, Sun 2 PM; no shows 12/23-12/25 or 12/31-1/1; Otherworld Theatre, 3914 N. Clark, otherworldtheatre.org, $65 (includes a beverage); limited to five players/audience members per performance
The wandering wyvern, the setting for the show, is a quaint tavern, located in Amelor, the imaginary world where Chronicles of the Realm, Otherworld’s long-running site-specific LARP series, takes place. If you are unfamiliar with Amelor or Chronicles of the Realm, don’t let that scare you away from partaking in this magical experience. As director and lead facilitator Tiffany Keane Schaefer said before the show, “The NPCs/Actors are trained to meet players/patrons where they are at.”
Before entering the wandering wyvern, players/audience members are given a quest to complete during the show/game. After receiving your quest, you are transported from the serene ambiance of Otherworld’s lobby into the LARP world of the inn.
During the show’s 90 minutes, I was able to meet some of the inhabitants of Amelor such as Cyrus El’ Tiel, played by NPS/actor Sam Campos. My quest in particular had me keeping an eye on Cyrus, who is an agent of the house of Corsin. Simply put, Cyrus knows all the Amelor tea. In addition to Cyrus, I also had the pleasure of making acquaintances with Rosalind Saltcliff, a princess who was on the runto avoid being married off by her brother, played by Sean Buckley. Other characters I encountered were Tyrell (Blake Hood), Basilei (Jono Mammel), and Ash (Shaun Hayden).
The entire ensemble is extremely talented and supportive, helping all the players solve the puzzles and riddles necessary for our quests, which kept the show moving at a good pace. (The audience is limited to five players per show, and Otherworld promises that no two shows are the same.) If you are hesitant about LARPING, rest assured Otherworld has safety precautions in place so that audience members and actors can communicate with each other during the show/game about their levels of comfort.
Since we’re coming up on nearly three years of pandemic overload, an occasional escape could be just what the doctor ordered. Otherworld can help you get away from winter blues by entering a tavern just four blocks away from Wrigleyville but a world away from the sports bar scene.