The sheer crowd madness induced by this interactive text-based game, which has its own cult following, is really something to be experienced.
Robertson commands the stage in a video game dungeon garb outfit, armed with a torchlight and microphone. He is completely in character and in control of the energy he channels through the crowd. With four choices on screen, he talks you through as…
‘YOU AWAKE TO FIND YOURSELF IN A DARK ROOM’.
Shouting, screaming. Practically climbing on top of each other to try get picked. I’ve never seen an audience like this. The only rule there is? When John Robertson asks your name, you have to say Darren. This isn’t explained in the slightest, but he and the crowd go nuts when you don’t.
‘YOU AWAKE TO FIND YOURSELF IN A DARK ROOM’.
Everyone chants in unison as the lucky participant is presented with four choices. The choices start off quite simple, go North, sleep, turn on the light, feet. As Robertson narrates through the picks, the choices get sillier. The only thing anyone really needs to know is that death is inevitable along with the crowd chants of ‘YA DIE YA DIE YA DIE’ when you inevitably do.
You get a silly prize for winning but really the prize is getting to be a part of the chaotic energy in the crowd.
According to my watch and the game timer on screen he overran by 15 minutes, but I think 99 per cent of that audience would’ve stayed another two hours if they could.
Trying to make sense of what I just witnessed, I spoke to a girl who happily took home her ‘inconvenient prize’ – a clothes-horse.
‘I went last year, and it was like a cult and now I’m in the cult’.
‘YOU AWAKE TO FIND YOURSELF IN A DARK ROOM’.
John Robertson’s The Dark Room, Gilded Balloon Patter House (Doonstairs), 22:00, Until 24 Aug
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/john-robertson-s-the-dark-room
