THE HANGOVER REPORT – The elaborate, immersive STRANGER THINGS: THE EXPERIENCE concludes its summer residency at Brooklyn Navy Yard

During the steamy days of summer, fans of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things were able to immerse themselves in the show’s universe via Stranger Things: The Experience, a large-scale sit-down attraction that just completed its residency in New York at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The television juggernaut is unique amongst its peers in that it has managed to engage viewers across generations — older viewers have latched onto its carefully reconstructed 80s retro aesthetic, while younger fans have bought into the vivid sci-fi/horror adventures of the show’s young protagonists.

The traveling attraction is being billed as an immersive experience in which fans are able to literally step into the world of the television series as characters in the show’s unfolding plot. In concept, the ability to have direct agency in the narrative’s trajectory is an enticing proposition. In execution, however, Stranger Things: The Experience simply falls back on the tried-and-tue formula utilized by your dime-a-dozen escape room, albeit one that’s been elaborately realized on a huge scale. Suffice to say — despite its sizable budget — it lacks the depth and nuance of the best examples of immersive theater out there (e.g., Sleep No More, Then She Fell, Bottom of the Ocean). This may be okay for some, especially younger participants looking for theme park-like thrills. Indeed, the experience — which is staged in an expansive warehouse and uses a combination of game in-person actors, in addition to pre-recorded material featuring the Stranger Things cast — packs in a lot of action and admittedly impressive special effects over the course of its eventful hour runtime (no spoilers here). But those looking for more sophisticated storytelling and character development (like myself) may find the whole thing a tad lackluster.

At the end of the journey, you’ll be routed to the “Mix Tape”, an Instagram-able 80s-themed area which smartly recreates various establishments in the town of Hawkins. Here, you’ll be able to unwind from your adventure and indulge in food, drinks, ice cream, souvenirs, photo opportunities, and so forth, thereby further immersing fans in the world of Stranger Things (there is no time limit during this portion of the experience). I found this open-ended epilogue — which capitalizes on the retro fabulousness of the 1980s in a fun and interactive way — to be the most original part of my visit. I just wish the rest of the experience was as inspired.

SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED

STRANGER THINGS: THE EXPERIENCE
Immersive Entertainment
Brooklyn Navy Yard
Approximately one hour
Closed

Categories: Off-Broadway, Other Musings, Theater

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