Tension (Event #5)
The Tension Experience wasn’t as intimidating as I thought going in, but it is definitely NOT for everyone. The premise is that a cult, the OOA, is looking for new recruits from the group. You are processed and put through a series of “tests” as it were. It’s way more complicated than that, but that’s the basic gist. Once I signed up, I got emails questioning my decision to partake in the attraction, which made me super excited and nervous about the event. Closer to the day, we were told the location and not to wear jewelry or watches, and that no phones were allowed. The only thing I brought in with me were my car keys. Waiting in the parking lot with the rest of our group (maybe 10 people), we talked about the emails we received and what we had heard or thought the event was going to be like. We were like kids on Christmas Eve; the anticipation was nerve wracking.
To say anything specific about my experience would most likely take away from anyone else’s, so I’ll be as vague as possible. Our group of 10 did not stay together through the experience. I actually spent most of my time alone with the actors. Others were in groups, split up and then grouped with different people throughout. Some experienced entirely different rooms than I did. There were some shared activities that most people took part in, but from what I could tell, there were 10 people and 10 different journeys through the attraction. You will sign a waiver beforehand about eating, drinking and disrobing. That is not a joke. These things will happen, albeit for a reason within the storyline. Senses will be taken away at times. You will interact with others either in your group, or the actors if they want you to. You will have to put your faith and trust in them that they will not let anything bad (for real) happen to you.
Unlike Delusion, which was an interactive play, this was an immersive experience. I felt like the group had more interaction with the actors in Delusion, possibly guiding the actors and action of the play. Whereas in Tension, the majority of the journey was done TO you. In the beginning, during processing, you answer some personal questions and then you’re on your way. I barely think I talked during my journey after the initial interview portion. I assume our answers during the interviews are what set us on our specific journeys, but I couldn’t even imagine the how or why.
After the experience, which took about 2.5 hours by the way, we took a group photo, were given back our belongings and shuttled back to the parking lot. The group could not stop talking about our different experiences, asking which rooms everyone went to, what each person endured, questioning the why of it all. The amount of thought put into this blows my mind. The production value was fantastic and the actors were incredible, staying in character while making the participants very uncomfortable at times. Tension, more than Delusion, has definite repeat value (even in the same year), because I’d imagine it’d be at least a slightly different journey each time. While Delusion probably wouldn’t change much any given year, I’d definitely want to revisit for a new storyline in subsequent years. Given that, it’s extremely hard to compare the two, as they are very different concepts. I will admit I was super excited after Tension to tell people about it, and I can’t wait to talk to my friend who is going next weekend about his experience. I also definitely took some things from Tension to think about in my life as a whole.
The survivors..?
