Adventure Quest takes center stage in New York theatre festivals
While many have been calling "curtains" on the adventure genre for years, the term will get a whole new meaning next month with the launch of the theatrical production Adventure Quest at the Brick Theatre in New York.
Created by Sneaky Snake Productions, Adventure Quest is a nostalgic, experimental stage performance that merges live acting with vintage graphic adventure backdrops and 8-bit music to "evoke the world of '80s adventure gaming, particularly King's Quest and Quest for Glory." And indeed, the premise will sound more than a little familiar to any longtime adventure fan, as described in the play's promotional materials:
- The town of Perilton has been invaded by the dreaded Cult of the Octopus, and our dashing hero is the only one who can save it! Gasp as he evades bloodthirsty monsters and solves devious puzzles! Cheer him on as he fights to win the hand of the mayor's beautiful daughter! Watch as he meticulously collects inventory items, and then exchanges them with other characters for new inventory items, which are then used to solve more puzzles! Shift uncomfortably in your seat as the narrative becomes increasingly unhinged! Glance around nervously as characters are brutally murdered for no particular reason! Weep silently as your faith in a meaningful, ordered universe is irrevocably shaken!
If entirely conventional in its settings, however, Adventure Quest promises to delve into them using a unique narrative structure. Elaborating on the format, co-creator Chris Chappell explains that the hero will move through such places as a Town Square and Cathedral by speaking action commands aloud, resulting in "a disembodied voice that gives descriptions of screens and objects, tells him when he can't do something, or when he's given an incoherent command." As he progresses through these obstacles, the protagonist becomes more self-aware, motivating him to "find a way around the rigid rules of the adventure game universe." (And haven't we all been there.) In doing so, Chappell claims that Adventure Quest starts to "explore ideas about happiness, freedom, and violence, and it also allows us to move from the familiar cheerful world of adventure gaming into what is, frankly, some pretty dark psychological terrain."
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Perhaps it's fitting that dark psychological terrain be evident in the play, as Adventure Quest will debut as part of The Antidepressant Festival in Brooklyn, running from June 5th-July 4th. The production will be performed four times, and general admission tickets are $15 each. Tickets will be available on site if quantities last, but to ensure seating early, they are offered already for purchase online. For complete scheduling details and further information about the play, check out the Adventure Quest Facebook page.
If you're in the area but can't make the original dates, Adventure Quest will also be part of a second gaming-themed mini-festival called Game Play later in July, though tickets are not yet available. Further information will be listed at the above website when it becomes available.
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