In the past, one of the crimes leading to execution included innocently walking on the King’s highway with a sooty face! This is just one of many entertaining yet eccentric things that are included on the Crimes Punishable by Death board to greet tourists and locals alike as they visit the wonderous depths of the London Dungeons. London Dungeons, located on The Queen’s Walk, is in the heart of London- aptly situated since it certainly resulted in getting our pulse beating at dangerous rates.
This year, in 2022, London Dungeons has introduced a new, shockingly scary and startling production to encapsulate what life in the 17th century was like for supposed guilty individuals. This production, Curse of the Witch, lasts a little over an hour- but the hour is such that we will never forget. Because the production is less of a stage show and more of a journey, through the haunting and murky depths of our history that we were told to forget but need to remember. Because the show had not forced laughter but ineludible goosebumps that heightened the enjoyment and exhilaration. Because when one steps into the magnificent archway guarded fiercely by fearsome statues and torches burning bright, they don’t walk in for a production, they walk in for an unforgettable experience.
There is not a moment of this experience that is not thoughtfully crafted. Each sense is evoked till it is heightened- with unexpected 4D features that were synchronized with the commendable acting. These were brought on by chairs with unpredictable technology and rooms designed with outstanding thought to the precision and accuracy of special effects. Not a moment of this production was neither enjoyed nor appreciated. From seemingly mundane props like lights and water- the production was such that it brought it all to life. The light changing from white to black as rapidly as our hearts were beating only amped up the production to a whole other level- it seemed like we were a part of it too.
This is one of the most inclusive and interactive experiences seen- there was never a monotonous moment. It appeared like we too were among the convicted or cruel, where we were put on the spot and forced to justify ourselves. Whether it was the judge with make-up and a ridiculous but reminiscent and truly entertaining white, curly wig forcing us to plead our innocence, or being put side to side with Elizabeth Sawyer herself, we didn’t just follow the journey into the past- we embarked on it ourselves. Certainly at the end, with a Drop Dead ride that stole the smiles from our faces, but returned it in the gallery available to buy pictures from at the end! Then, everyone in this experience got to meet firsthand with the, subjectively, scariest actress in the experience. Meeting face to face puts a whole different spin on things, showing how Curse of the Witch just goes the extra mile.
Though, this was not an overall scary experience. The scary screams were intermingled with smiles till they became indistinguishable. If you ever are to experience the Curse of the Witch firsthand, as it would be infinitely recommended to do, you must keep an eye out for the signs labelling the doors as you leave the judge’s chambers; the signs got every single person in the room on a scale from chuckling to collapsing with laughter. Though this is not all, Mrs. Margery Lovett is just one of the many people with a slightly unhinged yet enjoyable humour that had us all squirming where we stood. She had all sort of innovative puns about her nickname ‘Marge’ that we could use to butter her up- but we couldn’t spread it! However, highlighting just one of her puns does injustice to the full extent of her incomparable and unbeatable humour, where there were jokes in every sentence- laughter basically guaranteed!
However, it would be cruel to contain the full extent of the experience to just the scriptwriting. The acting was so flawless it would be impossible to criticize it. From facial expressions to tonal intonations, every part of their body was tuned into not only acting, but fully encapsulating the feel of being the character themself. The actors, with their masterful manipulation of our emotions and thoughts, gave this experience life. The actors themselves were the heart of the performance, getting all of ours to beat rapidly in the process.
The Curse of the Witch was incredible for everyone, from children to adults alike. Asking an adult, Pooja Arora, what she enjoyed most in the experience, she says ‘I enjoyed the feel of the play. I liked how it took us wholly into another world. I like how even now, I cannot put into words what the experience was like- it was that amazing!’ These wise words couldn’t be truer- the experience was so beautiful and real that this article gives only a glimpse of the whole picture; lets you see only one colour in the painting that is the Curse of the Witch. But when that colour is so shocking, imagine how the real experience is. Better yet, stop imagining, because you can experience it yourself! The show is on- so visit it today!
