Thereโs nothing wispy about these Willows.
I got to check out one of the most sought-after shows in the country, an immersive murder mystery experience conceived by JFI Productions, some of the brightest creative minds in the industry.
Theyโre the guys behind Creep LA, a high-concept haunted house, and theyโve revived The Willows in celebration of 10 years of terrifying excellence.
Photo: Max Baker
I hopped out of my Waymo at Beckett Mansion, not sure what I was getting into. Iโd read all about the show, including reviews and co-signs and recap videos, but I didnโt know the story or quite how interactive the night would be.
This is like a murder mystery meets a haunted house meets dinner theater meets an escape room. The story centers on a grieving family enmeshed in conflict with varying levels of enthusiasm about their new dinner guests.
The first thing I noticed upon entering was the passing out of trinkets to a sparse few in my group of twenty. That small bloc would disappear, presumably to put their new toys to use, then I and a few would be whisked away to some other part of the house.
Photo: Jeremey Connors
This is how the night went, with the exception of a couple of all-hands tentpole sequences at the beginning, middle, and end of the show.
The cast is a cauldron of chemistry and clearly reveling in playing complicated characters at times on the edge of sanity. Theyโre able to volley, prod, and pander with whatever a guest might throw at them.
It was a night of seeming unpredictability held by a taut knot of clear and present plot and pacing that builds to a tender denouement. Just kidding, the end was terrifying.
Photo: Max Baker
The Willows officially starts its run tomorrow, and I canโt stress enough how quickly you need to get tickets. Theyโve sold out over 1200 performances with accolades from everyone from JakeWacoTX86 on YouTube to Trent Reznor to Jason Sudeikis. Ted Lasso himself!
โJFI fans have come to expect premium content thatโs equal parts cerebral, shocking, seductive, and, of course, creepy,โ said Justin Fix and J.T. Swierczek, co-founders of JFI Productions.
While all those adjectives are true, the show is at times very affecting, with florid emotional stretches that made me feel close to the nineteen people I shared this adventure with.
Whether or not all of us survived is another question.
Grab tickets here and hit our socials to let us know what you think.
