directed by Amy Rummenie
puzzles by David Pisa
August 3 – 13, 2006
The 1926 Condos
Billed as a theatrical puzzle game in a new home with a long-forgotten history, 1926 Pleasant was an experimental theatre piece in which the audience discovered clues and solved puzzles that moved the action of the story forward. 1926 Pleasant had a tremendously successful run at The Minnesota Fringe Festival, selling out 18 of its 20 performances.
Cast
Production Team
| edward | John Heimbuch | concept and story | Amy Rummenie |
| grace | Cherri Macht | David Pisa | |
| owl/girl | Liz Schwartzrock | puzzle design | David Pisa |
| Nadia Hulett | direction | Amy Rummenie | |
| production assistant | Liz Schwartzrock | ||
| story collaborators | Cherri Macht | ||
| John Heimbuch | |||
| photography | Dan Norman | ||
| illustrations | Kirsten Sevig |
Reviews
“It’s a puzzle — literally. And you get to help put it together. There are two threads and many pieces to this intriguing, enigmatic trip through an unfinished condo at 1926 Pleasant Av. S. One part of the ghost story has the audience putting together large boxes, small clues and scraps of paper in search of a mystery. The other strain follows two actors who are playing out the increasingly spooky and macabre aftermath of a long-ago fire in this building. And what’s with all the owls?”
– Graydon Royce, Star Tribune
Part Encyclopedia Brown mystery and part IQ test, this interactive show suggests that mystery is a sleeper genre at the Fringe. Set in an unfinished (and grossly overpriced, I might add) Uptown condominium, the show offers a chilling puzzle—and a less-than-satisfying ending. Still, you’ll leave this condo with the new knowledge that the owl, not the raven, is the creepiest avian species around—and with a new fear of the real estate listings.
—Erin Adler, City Pages
“Absolute genius” Definitely the best I’ve seen this Fringe, and the most clever, inventive show I’ve seen in a long time. Simply put, there’s nothing else like it. The plot revolves around a mysterious event in the house’s past, which surfaces as new inhabitants are moving in. But the show requires the audience to unfold the house’s secret through a series of ingeniously devised puzzles. I felt they were at just the right level; they were a challenge, but not impossible. Walking Shadow would deserve 4 stars just for the best use of a bring-your-own-venue, but the show itself deserved all 5 on its own.
-Jim Belich, MN Fringe Audience Review
“Excellent puzzle, excellent actors” The puzzles were well-designed. The audience members in the show I attended quickly learned to work as a group; the actors told us afterward that we were the fastest group yet. Everyone got to be good at something. The mystery itself made me rethink the role of the supernatural in mysteries. I used to think it had no place unless its rules were well-specified up front, but it is also interesting to see a mystery where part of the puzzle is to guess how the phenomena work in the story. I liked the acting; it was convincing, and I give them extra points for working in crowded and chaotic conditions.
– Charles Hardin, MN Fringe Audience Review
“Exquisite” What an enjoyable and unusual experience. I imagine how much fun you had would depend on the dynamics of the group, but our group seemed to share the fun pretty well. The puzzles were clever, and I enjoy puzzles. But, even if I didn’t, the atmosphere of the play would have been enough fun too. It’s kind of like this. When you watch a movie, you are watching a flat, completely unresponsive screen. When you watch a play, it is deeper, and there is a dynamic between the audience and the players. But, this was experiencing the play right along with the actors. It’s like the difference between 2D and 3D. We could literally reach out and be part of the action. Bravo!
-Kristi Lawless, MN Fringe Audience Review
