Cold War Lounge

Going into Cold War Lounge, I had no idea how it would unfold. Which is probably the best way to experience a story about spies. This limited-run experience is a collaboration between Spy Brunch (Safehouse ’77), CoAct Productions (The Sideshow), and Sampson Creative Enterprises (Grunge Shop Tavern). Although the thematic ties were obvious, I was in the dark about everything else. Did the story connect to Safehouse? Was it a performance? A game? I had very little information, and in a game of spies, this could be dangerous.

The Mark

Dressing appropriately, as instructed, I wore my fancy jacket from Thailand and headed to the back of an otherwise normal bar in downtown LA. Past the regular sports fans, I encountered other well-dressed individuals, and two helpful ….let’s say, personalities. They not only made sure everyone was in the right place, they engaged in friendly and witty banter with the guests. Essentially setting the table for what was to come, they pulled me into the right frame of mind immediately.

At the appointed hour, the Cold War Lounge welcomed the new guests. We mingled with the regulars already there. I made a beeline for the bar. One drink is included with entry, and I thought social lubrication would help in dealing with any shady characters. The regulars must have been starved for new blood, as one or two came up to me as I waited in line. I greatly appreciated this as a guest. It took the pressure off me to know where to begin my experience AND prevented the drink line from being wasted time.

The Drop

Cold War Lounge effectively used a relatively small space, creating several environments and using a clever system to pull guests in different directions. A story began to take shape. Alliances were formed. And maybe…rivalries? That’s the thing about spies. You’re never sure what is REALLY going on. But you have an idea, and you trust yourself because you can’t trust anyone else. The paranoia and suspicion fostered by the actors and plot was palpable, but I had a goal. I was working towards it, and I was going to navigate these murky waters and come out clean!

That was the plan, anyway. Before I knew it, the rug was pulled out from under me. It unraveled quickly, revealing things I never knew, and things I was SO CLOSE to knowing. Alas, someone beat me to the punch. The hour in Cold War Lounge absolutely flies by and leaves you wanting more. Although I didn’t satisfy my own goals, I’m glad to know the same creative team will let me play in a world of espionage again this year with Safehouse ’82. In that regard, Cold War Lounge is an exciting, engrossing warm up. Yet it still stands firmly on its own as an independent experience.

Femme Fatale

There are a couple drawbacks I’d be remiss not to mention. Two superficial and one more complicated. First, the night was HOT and the upstairs lounge had minimal air conditioning. This was compounded because of the dress code, and I had a long-sleeve shirt and suit jacket. I removed the jacket when I couldn’t bear it any longer. I feel bad for the actors who had to keep theirs on. The second small detriment was several characters smoking herbal cigarettes made with green tea. Smoking absolutely fits the theme, time, and place and undeniably adds to the atmosphere. They were so convincing I assumed they were nicotine cigarettes and tried my best to avoid them. I detest the smell of smoke, and in the small lounge, it’s hard to escape it. I should have realized it’s illegal to smoke real cigarettes inside a public business in California. So I was probably overly concerned about it, but the herbal smoke could still bother some people.

My bigger concern involves the finale, so I will tread carefully. Afterwards, an actor helped me figure out the crux of the problem–the actions you want to take are at odds with the theme. Cold War Lounge is about spies, secrets, distrust, and betrayal. Information feels hard-won and you are not inclined to share it readily. However, to “succeed at the mission” (not really the plot, but a sufficient metaphor), you need to collaborate early and often. There was a lack of direction (or maybe I missed it) of what to DO with the information you glean. At the end, I had the crucial piece of the puzzle but was stuck on the last step. With a bit more of a nudge, perhaps conveyed early on, I would have reached a satisfying conclusion. Instead, I watched the show play out knowing I could have had a role, if I’d just known how to make it happen. Scuttlebutt from others indicated the same thing. With the audience in the dark, I suspect the actors needed to push the story over the finish line themselves, which is not the best outcome for anyone.

The Crow Flies at Midnight

This did not diminish the immersion or fun. I certainly would have enjoyed staying in the Cold War Lounge setting for longer. The post-show discussion was lively and enthusiastic. One of the actors also played a major role in Delusion’s The Blue Blade, which was fun to recognize as a fan of the immersive community. Although the show is over for now, I hope it will return sooner rather than later. I recommend it for anyone who likes the spy genre, mysteries, quality acting, or just getting dressed up for a fun night out. You can’t buy tickets yet, but you can read more about it here.