Wagabondi Ho!: taps into the mystique of the camper van

Wagabondi Ho! taps into the multi-facetted mystique of the camper van, from childhood vacations fondly remembered to the intoxicated shennanigans of shag-wagon slackers. 

Guests arriving at the entrance booth are invited to settle on lawnchairs under a blanket and get to know each other, while waiting their turn to board the mystery bus. They are asked to choose from three possible performances: Look, Listen, and Learn. In our case, we chose to learn.

Entering the van, we were asked to remove our shoes, and were rewarded with steaming cups of green popcorn tea. Within the confines of the camper, the audience of four was asked to make ethical decisions of behalf of two actors, who chose scenarios from a deck of cards.

The choose-your-own-adventure format of the particular peformance, Learn, recalls “A Question of Scruples,” that fab 80s cocktail-party amusement. The result is a heightened sense of possible crisis: at the moment of truth will you discover that your companions are liars and cheats, or are they good, honest Samaritans?

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel theatrical game, though I do suggest that its premise could be taken further.  In the age of reality television, when audiences are primed to watch others go up in flames publically, it might have been interesting to incorporate a sense of consequences into the performance.  If audiences encourage players to engage in white lies and petty misdemeanors, will the actors succeed or fail, and is the audience responsible for the outcome?  This seems like rich territory worth exploring.

As a BYOV, Wagabondi Ho! clearly wins points for both originality and nostalgia factor – not an easy combination to pull off.  The dark dome of the van, the hot tea, and the soft murmur of conversation create a sense of warm intimacy reminiscent of slumber parties and camping trips. Unlike some interactive performances where audiences are used as fodder for cruel jokes, this space fosters closeness between participants and actors. First time Fringe-goers may especially enjoy the chance to get up close and personal with skilled actors who want to take them on an unusual and imaginative journey.

Running at approximately half-an-hour, Wagabondi Ho! can be enjoyed while en route to a later performance, and with the selection of three experiences to choose from, it can be enjoyed more than once – make sure that you do.

For showtime information park yourself here.

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