Post pandemic lockdown, I have taken an interest in theater that can be enjoyed from home. There are many people with mobility, childcare, and transportation issues who deserve to be thoroughly entertained. So when I was told about an award-winning performance conducted entirely on the telephone, I was excited to learn more. I booked three calls — the recommended minimum — with Lennox Mutual. This fictional “life en-surance” company would have a customer service representative reach out at the agreed upon times. Beyond that description, I did not know what to expect.
Normally, I don’t insert myself into my reviews or reveal details. It is impossible to write about Lennox Mutual without doing a little of both. However, I don’t believe these to be spoilers. Each interaction with the work is dependent upon your personality, your decisions, and to some extent the actor on the other end of the phone.
My confirmation email from Lennox Mutual insisted that I remain open and honest throughout my engagement. The only way to approach the exchanges with my “scene partners” was as Me. Me is risk-adverse: When given the choice between a door that has obviously witnessed catastrophe and one that has music playing beyond it, I will avoid the scorch marks. Me is also a problem solver. When being told a descriptive, somewhat rambling story, Me listens for clues that could unlock more pieces of the puzzle rather than simply finding joy in the narrative.
My first contact — who by coincidence or plan also conducted my final session — did a wonderful job of guiding me through the sprawling maze of story even while maintaining her AI inflection. The in-between rep seemed to do his level best to goad me into filing a complaint. Consequently, by the end of that second sitting I felt deflated, frustrated and not at all sure I was spending my time wisely.
Lennox Mutual was created by Evan Neiden, Olivia Behr, and Joel Meyers, and directed by Neiden along with Jacob Leaf. It’s hard to imagine what the script looks like, but the audition process must have been a bear. There are elements of improvisation, puzzle making, psychodrama, guided meditation, and interactive gaming, plus pure gut instinct. Each call lasts between 20 and 25 minutes and comes from an unknown number. You will need to be somewhere you can be alone and in dim lighting when you answer. You should also be prepared to sing, respond to unusual questions, and complete potentially disturbing scenarios. You will receive multiple reminders about your appointments and a safe word you can use if the conversation gets too intense. Recordings of any kind are prohibited.
In the 1990s, I took a vacation with a friend who believed that the journey was the destination. We would leave the hotel with my carefully crafted itinerary for the day complete with lunch reservation and well-researched potty breaks. She would turn a corner and say, “that bus looks cool; let’s get on and see where it goes.” If you are like her, you should definitely visit https://www.candlehousecollective.com/tickets/lennoxmutual and explore Lennox Mutual’s ticketing options. Around the same time as that trip, I had a co-worker who loved playing Myst and The 7th Guest for hours on end. If you are like him, you should consider the Lennox Mutual Eternity Plan with unlimited calls. Even if you are a risk-adverse completionist like Me (I had him tell me the plots once he’d completed the games), keep an eye on the Candle House Collective. They are evolving a new theatrical art form. These things take time.
The Unforgettable Line 