I Survived ‘Viola's Room,' a Spooky New Immersive Show Narrated by Helena Bonham Carter
On through October at The Shed, the show, titled Viola's Room, is directed by Felix Barrett and produced by Punchdrunk, the award-winning theater company behind Sleep No More. An interactive, hour-long journey, it has guests weave barefoot through a labyrinth of darkened rooms and halls (by designer Casey Jay Andrews), while a delightfully spooky Helena Bonham Carter narrates a fable, based on the 1901 story The Moon Slave by Barry Pain, through provided headphones. Even with no live actors or jump scares, it makes for an intensely effective—even somewhat poetic—haunted-house experience.
Guests walk through Viola's Room.
Photo: Marc J. Franklin
When I arrived for my prescribed time slot, I was surprised to find that there was only one other brave soul in my group. (Viola's Room is designed to be experienced by no more than six people at a time.) Our instructions were simple enough: do not lose sight of each other, and follow the flickering lights from space to space. (I was more than happy to let my partner lead the way.)
In the first space—a teenage girl's bedroom, its walls adorned with Tori Amos and Buffy the Vampire Slayer posters—Carter instructs us to lie down as she begins to tell the gothic tale of a princess who disappears from her castle, abandons her prince, and mysteriously journeys into the night. In time, the room around us was plunged into darkness, the only light coming from inside a blanketed fort in the corner. When, skeptically, we crawled into that fort, we immediately entered into a brand-new space: a maze of hallways lined with ghostly, draped white sheets.
As Carter's narration goes on, she describes the princess's descent into an enchanted and ominous forest—just as we, too, were taken through ever more otherworldly settings. Walking barefoot, we traversed terrains that felt alternately grassy, sandy, and like concrete, our surroundings ranging from a forest landscape to a high-ceilinged chapel featuring stained-glass windows suffused with a foggy light. Another room with a giant dinner table had balloons lining the ceiling, though in the darkness their strings felt more like vines, or even spiderwebs.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Beyoncé fans are paying close attention to her hair color as tour ends: Here's why
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is about to wrap up her "Cowboy Carter" tour in Las Vegas, and fans are already searching for clues about what's next for the superstar. Their current focus is the hair color of some of Beyoncé's dancers. The Grammy-winning singer kicked off her first concert at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on July 25. The concert marked her first of two shows at the stadium on her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour. She is set to perform again July 26. As she took the stage, Beyoncé donned a floor-length American flag coat with a matching bodysuit and white cowboy hat. However, it was her blond hair color that immediately caught the attention of some fans. Prior to Friday's show, rumors began to swirl when fans noticed some of her dancers appearing to change their hair color to jet black. One account wrote on X, "Beyoncé's dancers are reportedly dyeing their hair black, sparking rumors that it's a visual clue for the third installment of her trilogy: act iii." As fans know, Beyoncé released her eighth studio album "Cowboy Carter" March 29. The country album has already made history on multiple fronts and put a spotlight on Black country artists. In July 2022 Beyoncé released her seventh studio album "Renaissance." The project earned her four Grammys in 2023 including best dance/electronic music album, making her the most decorated artist in the awards' history. She later announced the album was the first part of a three-act project, making "Cowboy Carter" Act 2. After releasing albums in the country and dance categories, there has been growing speculation that the last project in the trilogy could be a rock album. Beyoncé only fueled this idea after she posed as funk-rock diva Betty Davis for Halloween — and yes, she was wearing jet black hair. However, during the July 25 performance, not only was Beyoncé's hair not black, but many of her dancers' hair colors also varied from black to red and more. One fan wrote, "And the black hair theories are dismissed." However, others were reluctant to abandon the idea entirely, noting that there's still one more show to go. Some fans even went so far as to point out that last show date falls on Davis' birthday. There are always fan theories floating around, and fans can expect even more as Beyoncé closes out her tour and the Act 2 era leaving them to eagerly await Act 3. As always, only time will tell. Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.
Geek Tyrant
a day ago
- Geek Tyrant
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Reboot Pilot Adds Five New Cast Members, Including SEVERANCE Star Sarah Bock and FRAISER Alum Jack Cutmore-Scott — GeekTyrant
Plot details are still under wraps, but sources confirm the story will follow Armstrong's character as the newest slayer, while Gellar returns as Buffy—an exciting blend of old and new for longtime fans. The revival seems like it's in good hands. Nora Zuckerman and Lila Zuckerman are writing and showrunning, while Oscar-winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao will direct and executive produce under her Book of Shadows banner. Gellar is also on board as an executive producer alongside Gail Berman, Fran Kuzui, Kaz Kuzui, and yes, even Dolly Parton via Sandollar Productions. The project is a collaboration between 20th Television and Searchlight Television, the same team that brought the original Buffyverse to life. Excitement has been building since the first table read, which Gellar recently teased with a behind-the-scenes photo. Buffy the Vampire Slayer started as a 1992 cult film written by Joss Whedon and directed by Fran Kuzui, before becoming a groundbreaking TV series in 1997. The show ran for seven seasons across The WB and UPN, introducing fans to a beloved ensemble that included Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Charisma Carpenter, Anthony Stewart Head, David Boreanaz, Seth Green, and James Marsters. Its success even spawned the spinoff Angel starring Boreanaz. With this reboot blending legacy characters and fresh blood, the big question now is: how will this new Slayer story honor Buffy's legacy while forging its own path? We'll find out soon enough when Hulu officially unveils the pilot.
USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
Beyoncé breaks records, fuels economies as fans 'bring it' in Atlanta, other tour stops
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is headed to the final stop on her "Cowboy Carter" tour after leaving her mark on cities along the way. Her most recent stops are prime examples. The megastar will perform her final two shows on her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour in Las Vegas. She is poised to take the stage at Allegiant Stadium for two nights on July 25 and 26. But before her Vegas finale, Beyoncé lit up Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta with four shows. More than just unforgettable performances, her ATL shows left an impression on the city and its local economy. Vice President for Communications for Metro Atlanta Chamber Abby Turano says the impact reached beyond the stadium, fueling Atlanta's economy and culture. 'Few events have the kind of impact that Beyoncé's performances brought to Atlanta last week," she said. "Whether you're looking through a creative and cultural lens or an economic one, hosting tens of thousands of fans — many wearing new cowboy hats and boots — and filling Mercedes-Benz Stadium four nights in a row is extraordinary." Emory UniversityGoizueta Business School economics professor Tom Smith added that the impact of Beyoncé's shows is felt by local businesses and venues, particularly because of how fans show up. "I think that most of the impact is really like a grassroots element because I did hear from a lot of folks that when she comes to town and especially with the 'Cowboy Carter' tour is that there is a reason to just bring it," Smith said. "So folks get dressed to the nines, put on my boots and a white hat, go out and buy white boots and a white coat, get their nails and hair done and things of that nature. People say, 'I'm going to make this a full-on event.'" That energy, he says, sets Beyoncé apart from other major tours. And the the local impact sticks around after the shows are over. "If you're running to a hair salon or you're selling boots and Beyoncé comes to town on this tour, it's going to make your month," he said. "It's going to make your year, perhaps." Prior to her Atlanta shows, Beyoncé's two nights in her hometown of Houston on June 28 and 29 generated $50 million in local spending, according to an analysis by Houston First Corporation. The concerts boosted hotel occupancy near NRG Stadium and downtown to nearly 80%, significantly higher than last year's rates in the low 60s. Local restaurants saw a 43% increase in reservations over the same weekend. Another study done by Vivid Seats found the hometown show was the most in-demand venue when looking at average ticket price — $516. The numbers may not be all that surprising. The tour debuted in Los Angeles with a record-breaking $55 million gross — the biggest reported single-venue engagement in Boxscore history by a woman. Overseas in Paris and London, Beyoncé also left her economic footprint. According to LiveNation, her three shows in Paris grossed over $39.7 million in revenue. They became the most profitable concert series in the stadium's history. The Grammy-winning singer first debuted her Cowboy Carter and Rodeo Chitlin' Circurt Tour at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on April 28 with 39 songs on the set list. The concerts have been revolutionary shows filled with family, fashion, different music genres, and most notably country music and cultural commentary. As fans know, Beyoncé first released the 27-track project in March 2024. It has since made history and broken multiple records. As Beyoncé's first country album, she deliberately featured country legends and emerging Black country artists alike. According to VividSeats, Beyoncé fans traveled farther than for any of her previous tours averaging 260 miles for the "Cowboy Carter" tour. The same report found fans travelled an average of 257 miles for her Renaissance World Tour. That tour spanned 39 cities across Europe and North America. Meanwhile, the "Cowboy Carter" tour hit nine. Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.
