The Joy Of Waking Up: ‘Bar of Dreams: Los Angeles’ (Review)
The absurdist adventure offers a whimsical, intoxicating escape
Today’s world is filled with so many things that press down on us. Environmental, economic, socio-political and moral crisis fill the news and the air. With the current surge of 80s and 90s nostalgia it’s become clearer that there is a deep desire to escape to what we view collectively “simpler” times. We seem to be constantly searching for escape in alcohol, games, tv and film, and yes, immersive experiences — anything that will let us escape the waking world. The real world is often overwhelming and disappointing, and let’s face it, adulting is hard.
Enter Bar of Dreams: Los Angeles, the brainchild of relatively new LA transplants, Jonathan Pedigo and Alex Leff, which takes us on a fun, sometimes melancholy, and intoxicating exploration into the world of dreams.
We’re met on the street by the ubiquitous Connie Connerly (Leff), recently moved to LA with his best friend Will (Pedigo) with a simple dream: To open a bar. Will, a cunning bartender has created an elixir that will let friends fall deep into sleep and share the same dream. But when we meet Will, he’s stumbling back to bed, half asleep. He’s been using his powerful concoction to stay in dreams all the time and avoid his unhappy transition to Los Angeles. Will has disconnected from Connie and the rest of the waking world, and his friend has invited us here to join Will’s “Dream Bar” and find a way to bring the bartender back to reality, and maybe find joy among the waking again.
The two hour piece explores both the joy of dreaming and the dangers of spending too much time hiding from reality. Along the way it examines the power of play, the effect of real world desires and pressures on our subconscious, the battle against depression, and the importance of connecting with the real world.
Bar of Dreams: Los Angeles is able to touch on so many topics through a well thought out combination of set dressing and props (the eagle eyed will spot nods to several favorite immersive experiences), video game nostalgia, escape room elements, and home-brewed stage-craft.
The show has a strong understanding of the weird, but familiar, nature of dreams which is reflected in the savvy writing and potent improvisational nature of the performance. While there is a marked story line, the four person audience is a clear collaborator in what occurs as it ventures into Will’s dreams of love, sadness and silliness. Every audience member gets a chance to shine, and to author a part of the absurdity of dream.
It’s here that Pedigo (as Will and aspects of his dream) does some amazing heavy lifting. He is our host and guide in dream, a comedic Rod Serling, one moment, and a lovelorn cowboy in another, and a grieving plumber in the next as he riffs on the audience’s responses and encourages us to play with Will. He is both silly and vulnerable at turns throughout.
Leff (as everyone/everything else in dreams) is not to be outdone, keeping up Connie’s constant, ridiculous and charming patter, setting the tone for the show, and even guides us through a fun, clear (and oddly in-world) on-boarding process. Leff also appears as another aspect of Will’s dream in an incredibly charming moment that steered my thoughts towards my own life, making me forget for a brief moment, that it wasn’t my dream.
Bar of Dreams: Los Angeles has a strong home-brew vibe to it, and there’s something absolutely refreshing, intimate and personal about it, especially in a time when Immersive seems to be going the way of Hollywood with a high sheen polish on it. While you can see the edges the world, (which is craftily addressed in show) the time spent in Bar of Dreams is emotionally real; there’s never an inclination to pull back the curtain.
Just like Will, we want to stay asleep, remain immersed and dreaming.
Bar of Dreams: LA continues to play at a secret address in the North Hollywood Arts District, CA. Tickets cost $75, for a 21+ audience. Check the website for updated dates here.
NoPro is a labor of love made possible by our generous Patreon backers. Join them today!
In addition to the No Proscenium web site, our podcast, and our newsletters, you can find NoPro on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, in the Facebook community Everything Immersive, and on our Slack forum.
Office facilities provided by Thymele Arts, in Los Angeles, CA.
