Safehouse ’82 Is a Thrilling Sequel from Spy Brunch LLC

It is the year E.T. phones home, Olivia Newton-John gets “Physical,” and I embark on my first mission with the CIA. I was recruited five years ago, in 1977, during what I thought was a simple house party, but I quickly found out that there was much more at stake than romantic relationships. Now, in 1982, I am faced with the ultimate question: Will I put my life on the line for what I believe is morally “right?”

Welcome Back

A sequel to Safehouse ’77 by Spy Brunch LLC, Safehouse ’82 continues the story of Sharon and her crew of CIA operatives. Margery, Sharon’s new assistant, welcomes guests on a nearby street corner and escorts everyone to the same house we visited five years ago, but the atmosphere is slightly different. Sharon greets her guests out front and sports a bloodied bandage on her shoulder, a clear sign that something is amiss and lives are in danger. Sharon explains that the house has been bugged and we need to find all of the hidden devices before we can get our assignment. This immediately sets a different tone than Safehouse ’77 by dropping any pretense and incorporating the audience right from the on-set. We are here to work, and we get to it.

Are You In?

When our first task is complete, Sharon lays out the details of why she called us: America is in a proxy war with Russia, and enabling the massacre of thousands of innocents in Africa. To cover up their hand in the deaths, the CIA killed field agent Nancy Packer, Sharon’s friend, and are now coming after Sharon for knowing too much. Sharon wishes to right the wrongs she committed at the CIA’s instruction and now needs our help to do so.

What unfolds from here is an evening of finding hidden clues and putting the pieces together in order to bring the necessary information to a reporter and bust the scandal wide open. Instead of focusing on intrapersonal relationship drama and secrets between people, Safehouse ’82 incorporates escape room elements to tell the story of what happened to Nancy, and who is behind Sharon’s assassination attempt.

Putting the Pieces Together

Safehouse ’82 is a sandbox-style, site-specific immersive event that has several different endings depending on the guests’ choices. Guests are free to roam the decade-appropriate house and participate (within specific guidelines) as they choose. The characters within the world of Safehouse offer guidance and snippets of narrative clues for participants willing to ask and dig deeper. Engagement is highly encouraged – including dressing up in period attire – and almost necessary for guests to get to the root of the secrets hidden within the house. While characters may pull specific guests aside for one-on-ones, or even a trip outside in my case, the bulk of the information is laid out for everyone to take in once it is uncovered.

I have to hand it to the impeccable cast which, during my time with them, had to deal with a particularly unruly audience. Katie Rediger, returning as Sharon, had to answer a barrage of questions from some overeager guests who were bucking the narrative, but she carried on and commanded their attention like a consummate professional. She kept the story flowing despite some set-backs and embodied a no-nonsense CIA operative beautifully. The rest of the cast is made up of familiar faces from Safehouse ’77, except Lauren Hayes (Cold War Lounge) as Margery. Hayes’ portrays Margery as a new assistant who is too smart and awkward for her own good. She is just as adept at sitting alone processing the information as she is jumping into the action, helping guests figure out important data. A smaller aside with scene-stealer Katelyn Schiller’s (The Pod) bohemian Sonya provided some lighthearted moments, and she astonishes in a well-choreographed surprise moment. Being a sandbox production, I didn’t have much contact with the other performers outside of cursory greetings, but they all work together nicely to provide a cohesive unit of operatives.

The last piece of the Safehouse ’82 puzzle is the location. The same house from Safehouse ’77 has been “modernized” to include ‘80s accoutrement and paraphernalia, sometimes to humorous effect. An ‘80s board game is played, period magazines line the coffee table, ‘80s tunes play on the radio, the technology is appropriately clunky and hilarious to revisit, and discussion touches on the ERA as well as friction with Russia. Like in Safehouse ’77, small snacks are available, as are some adult beverages (three max) which are quite strong. The overall décor and atmosphere, as well as the costume design by Briana Roecks, combine into an entertaining time-capsule of espionage.

Uncovering the Truth

Safehouse ’82 suffers slightly in their audience size, combined with issues inherent in sandbox-style productions. With around ten guests, the evening can get quite chaotic and I often found myself sitting out of searches due to the number of people in a given area, or talking to a character on the side about other things. If the audience size is decreased to about six to eight people, participation and interactivity would be easier for everyone. As it stands, guests could possibly miss out on important information or lack input on questions that could change the evening’s outcome, especially if they are following a different character or not where the “main” action happens to be. That being said, it is up to each participant to find that agency and be active in the narrative if they want a say. Like most sandbox productions, Safehouse ’82 is a show that audiences can revisit in hopes of affecting a different outcome, talk to different characters, and learn more secrets in this world Spy Brunch has created.

To Be Continued..?

Written by Katelyn Schiller and director Nick Rheinwald-Jones, Safehouse ’82 continues Spy Brunch LLC’s track record of amazing productions, but is definitely more for escape room enthusiasts than guests looking for a more narrative- and character-driven evening. I hope this is not the end of the Safehouse storyline, as I would love to know more about these amazing people and the dangerous work they do. An intricately designed and masterfully acted experience, Safehouse ’82 is a delightful night of intrigue.

For more information on Safehouse ’82 and Spy Brunch LLC, check out their website and Instagram; purchase tickets HERE.