Review: MANOR OF LIES, Morpheus (Online)
As much as we have missed live theatre and physical theatre ambiances, there is a new kind of live theatre experience in town and it can be considered as one of the most remarkable well-thought performances born from the lockdown limbo!
If you’re missing escape room games, you’re an 19th century period aficionado, you have detective skills or merely just want to be part of an adventurous game on a quiet Sunday night, Morpheus has just the ticket with its special range of online plays, and this is confirmed in their latest show, Manor of Lies.
With this immersive role play experience, Morpheus succeeds in delivering a spectacular mysterious piece of entertainment, which is humorous, well-written, and demonstrates adaptable storytelling.
After your confirmation email, you receive instructions: all participants must have a stable Internet connection, Zoom, a set of headphones and a blindfold. You can grab any drinks you like, wear any outfit you wish (why not dig out a Regency costume from your wardrobe?!) and prepare to spend a couple of hours in a world entirely constructed within your own imagination.
With eyes covered for the entire show, the play exists in the audience member’s minds. The incredibly talented actor playing the narrator describes what the player/audience “sees” and reacts to whatever they have their characters do. Two brilliant unseen actors voice everyone the audience meets, from grieving groomsmen to a female doctor to grandiose gentlemen, improvising answers to participants' own queries and dropping important clues along the way, set to thrilling music and sound effects.
The stage is set in a 19th century gothic manor, in which Lord Dante Rochester, a notorious Don Juan-Regency character, confides to the players that he is being blackmailed and needs help. Before the group sets out to find out what is happening, the host is murdered, leaving the audience to investigate the case as well as find the murderer in a mansion populated by wealthy guests, shuffling staff, and mysterious strangers before the magistrate arrives.
The audience can do absolutely anything they like, the sky is the limit in this Choose Your Own 19th century Adventure’s world and the narrator has to react in consequence and create from that. Since the narrator makes it clear from the beginning that it will be a collaborative effort, everyone needs to discuss and approve what to do next and find solutions together. No one is left behind and towards the end of the experience, it feels like the members of the team have known each other for a long time!
Manor of Lies is a delightful out-of-this-world whodunnit adventure, which guarantees to entertain.
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Alexia Irene
Manor of Lies is available to book here.