Review: Last Call Theatre Invites You to Discover The Liminary

From a mob-owned casino to a tall pirate ship and beyond, Last Call Theatre brings totally immersive interactive productions to the greater Los Angeles area. Their latest experience takes place in a distinctively old-fashioned building in the West Adams area in 2042 known as The Liminary, a place of hope, refuge, and resistance against the tyrannical U.S. government. Finding your way there offers you the best way to escape the Agency for Assimilation and American Activities (4A) by disappearing into a network of safehouses.

But when you arrive, it’s highly probable those hiding out there may still be surrounded by lies, double crossing agents from both sides, secret rooms hiding those deemed undesirable, or in-fighting due to a lack of trust among those trying to work together toward a better and safer America. So, who can your trust to tell you the truth? And can this small idealistic band of hideaways put aside their differences and agree to work together against being infiltrated by 4A?

Much like the America we find ourselves stuck in right now, a nationalistic, isolationist government maintains a stranglehold on its people, with immigration to and from the U.S. banned while the system seeks to destroy anything and anyone deemed “un-American.” Still, there are always those who will fight back against tyranny, and the residents of The Liminary are part of that resistance. Will you decide join them or choose to expose the liars and spies among them? That’s really up to you.

The cast of The Liminary (from left) Enrique Quintero, Michu Cure, Bryan Siu, Gabriel Myers Prunty, Noite, Ashley Busenlener, Ronen Rinzler, Michael Di Nardo, Emilynne Newsom.
All production photos by Charly Charney Cohen

Welcomed by the docents when you arrive (Emilyane Newsom, Gabriel Myers Prunty, and Bryan Siu), the experience begins after you, as a seeker of a safer community, are shuttled up to the safehouse via an old freight elevator to meet a group of like-minded people joining forces to take on creating the type of America they want for their children and future generations.

But when you are soon called upon to assist someone from The Resistance, The Disenfranchised or The Nonconformists in revealing secrets and lies among them, who can you really trust is telling you the truth? Finding clues is the only way to figure that out, but even then, are the clues real or a set up to distract you from the uncovering what's really going on? My advice to be better prepared to play your part: be sure to read the information about these factions sent to you prior to visiting The Liminary to be more prepared for the experience.

Darah (Noite) welcomes the audience to The Liminary. 

I was first approached by handsome Enrique Quintero as Martin (Mars), “The Activist” leader of The Resistance, known for taking on the A4 opposition in the streets. Turns out he needed help finding out more about Sam (Michael DiNardo), a recently dismissed 4A agent who is seeking a safe place to stay after being let go and losing his health insurance while his wife is being treated for health issues. “Is he really telling the truth or just here to spy on us,” was my assignment. And so began my search for clues.

Gemma (Ashley Busenlener) looks on with concern during the search for clues.

Information gathered from Sam led me to Gemma (Ashley Busenlener), a 4A agent who spies on the government and shares information with those in The Liminary. But can she be trusted to keep those on the 4A hit list safe from harm? And what happens when her own name is on that list?  Has she been working for both sides?

Audience members attempt to crack an encrypted message to reveal a clue.

Back to Mars who asks for assistance in figuring out an encrypted message to open the combination of a small metal cylinder in which he suspects an important clue may be found. Will it assist in figuring out what Sam or Gemma may be up to – or perhaps future plans by 4A to invade The Liminary? It was a fun challenge, moved along with hints by Mars and a Docent when it was taking us too much time. And we were grateful for the help!

Others to investigate include Noite as the white-haired Darah, who is celebrating her last night in the safehouse before taking a train to a safehouse in San Diego. Also, Ronen Rinsler as Eden “The Leader” whose behavior adds suspicion about her motives.

What are Darah (Noite) and Eden (Ronen Rinzler) discussing?

One thing is apparent from the beginning – these six people need to work together if they are all to survive an attack by 4A the next day. But who can you trust and who wants to destroy The Liminary?  Depending on the questions asked and information gathered via audience participation, the process will be different at each of the performances.

But hopefully by the end, each of the three factions can unite to work together to save those within it from an attack by 4A. It’s up to you to assist them figure out which side each of them is on - so be Ready to Play your part as you never know what activity you may be asked to do!

Mars (Enrique Quintero) listens as Amaranta (Michu Cure) makes a claim. 

Kudos to the entire creative production team for creating this entertaining and creatively challenging experience, especially the imaginative Creative Lead/Director Liviera Lim, along with Producer Ashley Busenlener, Associate Producer James Bilinsky, Stage Manager Aleen Vartivarian who also welcomes patrons to the venue, Assistant Director Alex Borja, Dramaturg Sabrina Sonner, Costume Designer Kale Hinthorn, Scenic Designer Tyler Neufeld, Props Master Ron Langley, Lighting Designer Riley Cole who strategically places small table lamps to assist in reading clues at tables in dimly lit places, Sound Designer Glenn Schuster, Intimacy Director Brielle Biscocho, Marketing Assistant Jessica Homami, Graphic Designer Kacey Layson, and the hard-working Experience Designers Ashley Busenlener, Sabrina Sonner, Tyler Neufeld.

Don’t miss your chance to see and participate in The Liminary by Last Call Theatre at 1919 3rd Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90018, with all performances at 8pm on Friday, May 1, Saturday, May 2, Thursday, May 7, Friday, May 8, Saturday, May 9, Thursday, May 14, Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16. Tickets on sale at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/lastcalltheatre/2135418.

Last Call Theatre's The Liminary will also be supporting two local immigrant rights non-profits: Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) and the International Institute of Los Angeles (IILA). Audience members are asked to bring donations of school supplies and hygiene options. These kits will be assembled as part of the show and donated to IILA at the conclusion of the run. And buy concessions since 50% of all concession sales will be donated to CHIRLA.

The Liminary was devised by its cast in collaboration with the directing teams as a 100-minute immersive and interactive experience. Be advised to wear comfortable shoes and expect to be on your feet walking around for the duration of the experience. Please note there is one small set of three large steps required to enter the venue. Once inside, the location is ADA accessible but does require a separate entrance to avoid those entrance steps. So please send an email to lastcallthtr@gmail.com in advance of your show date so that accommodations can be made. Or inform the check-in desk when you arrive.

The Liminary experience includes mentions of violence, abuse, grief/loss, fascist governments, and persecution of minority groups, and is recommended for those 13+. Anyone under 13 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 21.