At a storage facility somewhere in Los Angeles, something is wrong. The staff, while pleasant enough, are worried about Kana Mori, the owner of said facility, whom has been missing for weeks. Though you’ve been asked to come help search for their missing boss, it is apparent that her employees have all but given up on finding her. However, as you search through Kana’s office, the rumbling of the freight elevator draws your eyes to it. A lone figure, dressed from a time long before this one, beckons you to join them. And that is where your adventure really begins…
Kaidan Project: Walls Grow Thin was one of those ambitious and pleasant surprises during the traditional haunt season, one which left me thinking just what the hell happened long after I left…but in the best way possible. Coming from East West Players and Rogue Artists Ensemble, Kaidan Project story is as simple as what I wrote above; Kana is missing, and you are tasked with finding her.
As the deceptively simple prologue scene tells you, the building you are visiting, home of Mori Storage, has been in the Mori family for years. During WWII, many families stored their belongings there while forced to relocate to Japanese internment camps. Though Kana was able to re-acquire the building after her family lost it during that time, it is clear that the possessions of the past have drawn many spirits to the building. Once you begin exploring the actual building itself, the spirits come alive, brought there by Kana’s search for the truth.
Kaidan Project was one of those rare experiences where I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I had heard it was based around Japanese folklore and that it had incredible puppetry work, but other than that, I was going in completely blind. And honestly, that was the best way to go about it, as it did catch me completely off-guard with its beautiful story and imagery. Even after the interview I had done with the team behind it, it was still a pleasant surprise to watch the story unfold before me.
Focusing on Kana’s struggle with Kitsune, the tricky fox spirit from Japanese folklore, guests weave the storage facility to see what basically amounts to short vignettes. These vignettes often transport you to a different time and place, allowing you to explore different stories that connect back to the main narrative. For the most part, these vignettes are fantastic from top to bottom. Stand outs included a young man making tea who was conflicted about cheating on his wife, and a “young girl” telling the story of her drawings in her bedroom. There was one incredibly odd one that seemed more akin to a Tarantino film than the narrative that Kaidan Project was trying to tell, but it was off-the-wall enough for me to not care about that and enjoy it.
The acting all around is impeccable, though. Every role is played with zeal, sometimes even over the top, but to great effect. A major shout out to our Kana, who absolutely carried the show, and bounced back and forth between the maniac, humorous, and serious tones with easy.
The set design was absolutely incredible as well, with each part of the story revealing something even greater than before. There were quite a few times that I had forgotten we were in an old building somewhere in LA and not in a tea shop, or a candy story, or even the bottom of a well. I was enthralled with their production design overall, and it really helped sell the story even more. There is one section, where you are free to “roam” a hallway, and each room is a vastly different set that completely blew me away. I wanted to stay there forever, because not only were the sets amazing, but the stories that went along with it were as well.
The use of puppetry also blew my mind quite a bit. I am a big fan of puppetry work, especially from the Jim Henson Company (who isn’t?!). There were some incredibly simple puppets at work here, along with some incredibly complex ones. Each one was quite the feat, and really added to the overall show. The first moment you truly encounter Kitsune, who is at the end of a long hallway, is one of the coolest things I have ever seen, both in an immersive show AND involving puppets.
For those looking to extend their Halloween season a little further, Kaidan Project: Walls Grow Thin is a great thing to do. While not scary, per se, there are moments of extreme creepiness that are sure to satisfy your haunt bug. A wonderful story, great acting, and amazing set design definitely make this worth your time.
Kaidan Project: Walls Grow Thin has extended its run through November 19th. Tickets range from $65 to $75, depending on performance date and times. To purchase tickets, and to learn more, visit them online at: https://www.rogueartists.org/kaidan-project/
