You find yourself inside a crumbling manor inhabited by beings that smear the lines between reality and fiction. In the midst of this surreal world, you are pulled into an interactive adventure that has you clamoring through hatches, creeping around corners, and confronting horrors you've never imagined. Delusion: Lies Within, the fourth installment of the Los Angeles-based Haunted Play's interactive theater experience, invites patrons to let go of the present and embark on an interactive adventure that wends through the captivating world that lies within the Elegant Manor of Elena Fitzgerald. Unlock buried truths, learn what boundaries you are willing to cross, and get in touch with the darkness in your soul.
Delusion's website notes that "your experience will be dictated by how deep you let yourself go. Lines between space, performer and audience shift. The action happens within the world you explore. You must participate to fully realize your journey into darkness and your actions move the twisted tale forward. But hurry, the darkness is creeping in and your time is running out."
Do you have what it takes to complete the adventure?
According to DreadCentral.com, Delusion has created "the most authentic horror experience you'll ever have," and with this year's Delusion: Lies Within, "Braver & Co. have become the undisputed kings of the haunted attraction," adding that "if you go to a single event for Halloween, make sure it's this one."
Delusion is co-produced by former All My Children star Sarah Glendening (ex-Marissa Tasker), and this year's cast includes a leading performance by Jillian Clare (ex-Abby, Days of Our Lives; Clutch; Acting Dead). We caught up with Jillian and picked her brain about the experience.
soapcentral.com (SC): How did you get involved with Delusion?
Jillian Clare (JC): I worked with the cowriter of this year's Delusion (Peter Cameron) a couple of years ago on a short he had written called Cora. Peter had posted on his Facebook that the show was looking for some actors. I read up on it a bit and contacted him. He put me in contact with Jon Braver (our creator, writer, and director) and I went in to audition. A night later, Jon called and offered me the role of Ruth, which I gladly accepted!
SC: How would you describe the show to someone who knows nothing about it?
JC: Delusion is an immersive, interactive show. It's not like anything I've ever seen or been a part of. Small groups come in, and we lead them through the story and give audience members the chance to participate in certain tasks. It's such a fun concept. It definitely has the elements of horror (through different villains and scenarios) but it really is more of a psychological game. It's really easy to get lost in the world of Delusion and forget about everything on the outside.
SC: Have there been any interesting or funny experiences so far?
JC: I have fun with all of my groups! It's cool because with my character in particular, she's completely nutty, so I have the advantage of being able to put people in their places and get in their faces. One group I had recently was particularly fun! It was my last group of the night, and it was only four people, all Koreans who barely spoke English. It was really interesting to watch them. I could tell they couldn't quite understand all of the things I was saying about the story, but they wanted to be involved so badly, and they absolutely loved it. There wasn't a moment I didn't see them smiling. On a different night, I had Lance Bass in my group. We played a pretty funny joke on him that the crew had been setting up in anticipation of his attendance. I can't divulge it right now, because if you haven't been, it will ruin one of the rooms, but when the show is over....get ready for a funny story!
SC: If you had to describe your character, Ruth, in three words, which would you choose?
JC: Obsessed. Snarky. Vigilant.
SC: How much of the show is scripted, and how much is improv?
JC: I stay pretty close to the script most of the time. Depending on the audience, though, I add in fun things. I'll make fun of them if they're moving too slow by calling them "slow pokes" or yell at them if they don't do something correctly. I really try to work off of the energy they're giving me. I love the groups who are mega fans of the show already and know the boundaries and how to move the story along. One of my fellow actors Cyle [Conway] says that one of his favorite things about working every night is hearing my snarky comebacks to the audience! You definitely have to be on your toes at all times and be prepared to come up with answers for questions that you haven't had to explain before. It's a really fun acting workout for me! I love being able to play around. Jon [Braver] is great about it too...he really gives you the freedom to explore your character and will even come up to you in the middle of the night, before your next group, with more cool and fun ideas.
The show sold out the entire six-week run before opening, but if you join the mailing list at EnterDelusion.com, they have hinted at an upcoming extension. Don't miss your chance to be a part of this one-of-a-kind psychological adventure.
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