“A niche market Hallowe’en themed pop-up immersive experience for the young at heart.”
Hidden away next to the bar at Toronto’s Esplanade Novotel Hotel is the “The Burton Experience: An Immersive Hallowe’en Pop-Up Bar” experience. It’s all things Tim Burton.
Do you need to have seen everything Burton has accomplished to enjoy the pop-up experience? No.
There’s a lot to take in about the experience. Some of it works, and some needs a bit of work.
It’s a niche presentation for the young at heart. It’s bringing people to the theatre. There’s nothing wrong with that. Theatre means different things to different people. This pop-up immersive experience is theatre, but it might not be to everyone’s taste.
This presentation is meant for 19+ up to 25 (even 30).
I think I was the oldest in the room. Oh well, it gave me a chance to be amazed at some presentation elements I found impressive.
For one, Damon Bradley Jang (who plays the Greeter Dragon Prince) is listed as the Production Designer. I must applaud his vision to create that unique Burton Hallowe’en look. Jang has a thing for minute detail. As Linda Loman tells her boys about their father in Death of a Salesman: “Attention must be paid.”
Jang has paid close attention to minute details.
Upon walking into the room, every inch of space is covered with creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky and all together ooky (cue Addams Family snap). This comes from Jang’s extraordinary vision to create atmosphere. Costumes are also marvellous, from Emily Bennett’s Wednesday Addams look to Zora Cotton’s Beetlejuice.
Zora Cotton is a marvel as Beetlejuice, one of the evening’s hosts. Cotton’s voice eerily resembles Michael Keaton’s from the film and the recent touring Mirvish production. Cotton is also an adept puppeteer. His working of the skeleton is simple but eerie. Emily Bennett’s Wednesday (the other host) is lanky and eerie as the odd daughter of Gomez and Morticia Addams. Bennett’s deadly glares at Cotton and audience members are part of the piece’s visual look that is ‘to die for’ (and yes, the pun is intended).
Where the pop-up experience wavers is the script.
There are moments where Cotton and Bennett keep the pace moving along nicely. There are some bawdy, lewd jokes (though I found the Charlie Kirk reference a tad inappropriate). There are costume parades – a few audience members came dressed in costume. There are prizes.
It’s in Act 2 where the quiz takes place right away where the pacing comes to a dead halt. Again, pun intended. The first act concludes on a high note. I wondered where it would go.
It’s deadly. Again, pun intended. The pacing drops.
Cut the quiz, or cut the number of questions.
The price of your ticket includes one complimentary alcoholic drink. During the intermission, you can purchase ghoulish and ghastly snacks and drinks, which are a tad pricey, so keep that in mind.
Is it worth a visit to the Tim Burton experience? Oh, sure, go ahead, it’s Hallowe’en. Just like the Hallmark Christmas channel and cashing in on the Christmas come home theme, this Tim Burton experience cashes in on the lewd and the dead. (Hey, that might even be a soap opera title Beetlejuice watches).
Sponsored by Crystal Head Vodka.
Produced by Fabulist Theatre.
