Immersive Goes Gorgeously Western

Don’t spoil the ending. Don’t spoil the twist. Don’t spoil the surprise. Don’t spoil the show.

This refrain drums through my critic’s brain with every review I write. After all, the point is to paint a thought-filled picture, not plunder the plot of all wonder.

Not a problem with Midnight High, the Western-themed immersive show written by Beau York, produced by The Octarine Accord, now playing at MATCH. It’s hard to spoil a show when you’re uncertain what it’s about. Or, for that matter, what it’s attempting to say or if there’s any relevance to be found.

But before you click off this review thinking, well, forget it then. Stick with me if you will.

What Midnight High lacks in comprehensive storytelling, it makes up for in stellar production. And when it comes to immersive shows, experience is king of the jungle. Or the king of the saloon in this case.

The MATCH black box theater is unrecognizable as we walk into the 1800s Oxhead Saloon. Set Designer Santiago Sepeda has worked magic outfitting the space as a dusty, moody, wooden-clad working bar (entry gets you whisky, beer, sarsaparilla or water). Two small anterooms flank the space, areas to explore. A second story is off limits, but brings great Western gravitas and expansiveness to the feel of the room.

Before entry, we’re given bandanas to wear either around our necks, should we wish to engage in conversation with the cast, or over our faces if we want to observe. Kudos to the team for making these take-home items – no one wants to think about wearing a germy piece of cloth that others have donned in this day and age.

On opening eve, most of us wanted to talk, so into the saloon, neck bandana-ed we waded.

Unlike many immersive shows, once inside, there isn’t much to explore outside of talking with the cast. Some papers and written materials can be found in the saloon. They’re worth reading, if only to give you something to ask the cast about.

And ask I did.

The show is billed as a Western mystery with a supernatural bent. Something is amiss in this town. Migrants have arrived and wreaked havoc. Unlike present political times, no one really wants to talk about it. So best to act as investigator and engage, I figured. Also, it’s not as though any character came over to talk to me all that much.  This is a show you need to jump into to get something back. Wallflowers are certainly welcome, but I can’t imagine they have all that much fun.

And here’s where things got good. One of the joys of immersive theater is to watch actors work up close, improvise, pivot and deal with nosy parkers like me. And this was a cast splendidly adept at all the above.

Law-keepers, past and present, bar flies, guitar players, pelt-sellers, a skittish waif, a cool as a cucumber lady, a mysterious black-clad figure – Mandy Mershon’s evocative costumes shine on every one of them.  I spoke to them all. Or more accurately, I grilled each character as I got more information as to why this town was in trouble. And they all handled it gorgeously.

There’s real talent in this cast. Some of the actors I know. Most are new to me. But all with compelling presence that made the inquisition entertaining. Even if it lasted too long.

With an approximate hour-long run time and nothing much to do but talk to the cast for most of it, I ultimately ran out of characters to engage and questions to ask.

Thankfully, the show eventually takes the reins back from us, switching from audience-guided discovery to scripted performance so we can sit back and watch, hoping that things will finally be explained/revealed.

Unfortunately, both the general plot and the climax of the show end up having as many holes as a saloon after a gun battle, sucking all the wind out of the ending.

It ends not with an aha! But rather a, huh?

Outside, I was approached by a couple that noticed I was asking lots of questions during the performance. Perhaps I understood the show better than they did? We spoke for a while. They were immersive fans, enjoyed the experience but were baffled as to what exactly happened or what it was about.

We traded theories. And frustrations. They want to go again and see if they glean more. That’s a win for the show. I hope they get something more next visit.

I wish I had understood more the first time. Immersive theater doesn’t have to be neatly tied up with a bow. There should be room for different experiences and interpretations. But we should walk away knowing what the point of it was and what the writer was trying to say, regardless of how we engaged with the show.

Instead, Midnight High felt as though it brushed up against both the Western and supernatural genres but did neither full justice. York probably has a whole backstory in his mind about what goes down – but it’s certainly not communicated to us in any satisfying way.

Still, I’d sit in that space with those actors and shoot the shit anytime. A world has been created here – no small thing – and that alone is something to celebrate.

Midnight High runs through October 25 at MATCH, 3400 Main.For more information, visit matchhouston.org or midnighthtx.com/tickets $65 including drinks.

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