Theater Review: Otherworld Theatre in Immersive ‘Murder on Horizon’ Thru May 1, 2022

CHICAGO – Time to get back to live stage shows! The Otherworld Theatre of Chicago (Wrigleyville Neighborhood) presents an immersive sci-fi experience – AKA audience participation – on a space station, enticingly titled “Murder on Horizon.” The audience is part of solving the mystery as a futuristic gumshoe goes from suspect to suspect to find the killer of a prominent scientist.

Play Rating: 3.5/5.0

Val Tramel (Taylor Fryza) is a scientist who also has a crippling disease. Her work in consciousness transfer may be the key to healing, but before the breakthrough occurs she is found murdered. The interstellar detective Symin Stone (Michael Darmon) is on the case, with an array of suspects aboard the spacecraft, including the alluring Mina (Lilly Boluc), they mysterious Wanda (Ginny Weant), the earthling Dr. Drucker (Chris Mantione), the engineer Atari (Steffen Diem Garcia), blue alien Seline (Sofia Digiovanni) and the mercenary Routh (Alex Campbell). Even the bartender Gorgine (Belle Decker) or the robot Everest (Avalon McFadden) could be the perpetrators, and it’s up to the audience to help solve the crime.

Georgine's Bar in ‘Murder on Horizon'
Photo credit: OtherworldTheatre.org

The production design of Tiffany Keane Schaefer (also director) converts the theater into an interactive space station, with clean lines and distinct areas that the detective guides the audience through, there is even a nightclub room … where the chanteuse Wanda sings a tune. The suspects often go along with the audience members, dropping clues or diversions. The cast has fun with the concept, and as the play evolves will probably be doing less script and more interactions, which is all part of the intrigue.

As the live stage scene starts to rev up again, “Murder on Horizon” is a great way to ease back into it, where you’re part of the action. Gorgine the bartender will be there to serve you, and the crew of Horizon is there to mystify you. In space, no one can hear you name the murderer in advance.

[19]	By PATRICK McDONALD [20] Editor, Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com [19]