ALT DELETE

Since 2014, Delusion has presented a new show every other year, each met with high anticipation. Since this is 2019, I thought it was an “off” year, especially since The Blue Blade extended last fall’s run into the winter of 2019. Imagine my surprise, and excitement, when I heard Delusion would be back after all! Billed as an “interactive play and gaming experience,” ALT DELETE presents a short story expanding the plot of The Blue Blade.

Befitting a smaller show, ALT DELETE has shaken up the Delusion format. Partnering with a new board game cafe, The Dragon & Meeple, provides a venue that is both more affordable than their usual huge sets, and one that is full of potential customers. The mindset of patrons who enjoy playing games is not far removed from participants in Delusion’s shows. After all, their motto is “Play Your Part,” and the idea of “play” is integral to each.

Inception

Beginning your adventure in an active business is occasionally awkward, but mostly fun. The employees are all in on it, of course, but not all of the customers are. Seeing their bewildered reactions as clusters of people burst out of a door accompanied by a cacophony of strange noises was amusing every time.

Each person checks in at the desk and is assigned to a team, with a maximum size of six. Hooray! Small group sizes always help these shows. The experience even starts with a fun little bonus before the team is all together. The box office manager ably pulls double duty as an actor and sets the scene before sending you on your journey.

Blade Runner

I do not think it’s necessary to know the plot of The Blue Blade to enjoy ALT DELETE, although it certainly helps. Certain characters make return appearances, some in person, some in name only. The plot itself is entirely separate though. Where it falls in the timeline is a bit vague; personally, I believe it’s a prequel to the bigger story.

The heart of the experience is a single scene in one set. It sounds small, and it is, but only in comparison to full-length Delusion shows. The amount of interaction in the scene is wonderful. There is a variety of fun things to do, and with small groups, each person should be able to participate if they want. The acting is likewise impressive, as the performers have a story to get through, but must be able to respond on the fly to audience members’ actions and dialogue.

Time Bandits

I was having so much fun with the different challenges and tasks that the plot took a backseat. The basic story is easy enough, and there’s plenty of gray area to make you consider just what you’re doing. The tone strikes a perfect note of danger and risk in the guise of altruism. You know you’re doing something sketchy, but it’s for a good reason…right? It was really enjoyable in the moment, but if you asked me to explain the plot now, I would probably struggle with it.

That doesn’t bother me though. At about 20 minutes, ALT DELETE is a quick hit of adrenaline. The feelings you walk away with are more important than whether this short story squares up with the longer story from 12 months ago.

12 Monkeys

Interestingly, your feelings may vary depending on outside factors. I was lucky enough to see it twice. The first time had a technical glitch, so my group spent 5-10 minutes absolutely baffled, when it turns out, there was nothing we could do. The second time was missing a major interactive element. Luckily I did it the first time, but I am very curious why such a fun moment that gives an audience member a unique role was omitted. Also, in both sessions, the biggest interaction was assigned by the crew, instead of allowing us to choose among ourselves. I don’t know if this was for logistics, but I was bummed I didn’t get to volunteer.

The actors change as well. The first actor played an antagonistic, almost-angry version of Stanfeld, repeatedly yelling and chastising us when we did something wrong. The second actor played a more nervous version, trying a little more charm to sway us into helping him. Fun side note: I recognized the second Stanfeld from Cold War Lounge. I ad-libbed some backstory involving his character from that performance, Ivan. The actor gamely played along and we had a little meta discussion about his character from another show. Meanwhile the other audience members in THIS show were probably wondering what was going on. That moment was a ton of fun although unlikely to be easy to replicate.

Arrival

The feeling of “fun” is the one I keep coming back to. The plot isn’t airtight, and they tell you up front that it’s a short experience. But the whole time you’re involved, ALT DELETE is a great ride. While not really scary, it’s still a good option if you’re looking for a fall/Halloween activity, especially as a date or with some friends. As long as you’re there, make a night of it by sticking around the Dragon & Meeple afterwards. It’s a big space, with hundreds of games, including many new ones. The food menu looks appealing, and they have a variety of beers on tap. ALT DELETE is located at 3742 S. Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 900007. Shows run every 20 minutes, Wednesday through Sunday evenings, until November 24th. More information is available at their website here.