Some Problems In Oz Can Only Be Solved With The Axe
The Speakeasy Society's second Kansas Collection chapter trades Glendale for an abandoned Little Armenia building — and raises the emotional stakes.
I can't imagine a show that had better value for its cost than The Speakeasy Society's show The Axe.
Our reviewerSome Problems in Oz Can Only Be Solved With the Axe
The Axe is the second chapter of The Speakeasy Society's Kansas Collection, and it raises the bar set by the first installment, The Key. Having already learned the world's rules, we felt more prepared going in — and were surprised again anyway.
Sent undercover to infiltrate the Patchwork militia on behalf of the Scarecrow, our group instead stumbled into REVOLT, a secret resistance led by a hardened, axe-wielding Glinda — a far cry from the pink-dressed Good Witch. The interrogation scene that followed, involving a chained Tin Man, delivered some of the best acting we've seen at an immersive event, revealing that the entire interrogation was staged to extract information from us.
The acting is the show's clear strength — good enough, in our view, to hold its own against a $150 Pantages production, despite the $15 ticket price. The story itself builds meaningfully on the first chapter, taking an already unconventional take on the Wizard of Oz and pushing it further into its underbelly.
Staged in an abandoned building in Little Armenia rather than the private Glendale home used for The Key, the set leaned into a creepier, more underground atmosphere that suited the story better. Twenty to thirty minutes of runtime was enough to fully absorb us, and at $15 a ticket, it remains an easy value proposition.
Why We Love It
- Acting quality strong enough to rival a $150 theater production
- Story builds meaningfully on the first Kansas Collection chapter
- Creepier, more atmospheric set than the first installment
- $15 ticket price for 20–30 minutes of fully immersive story
Considerations
- Light on decoration given the pop-up, budget nature of the show
- Requires having seen The Key to get full context
Our Hands-On Review
Our group of four was sent undercover to infiltrate the Patchwork militia, only to be redirected to REVOLT, a resistance organization run by a transformed, grime-covered Glinda interrogating a chained Tin Man. The scene revealed itself as a setup designed to extract information from our group — a twist we didn't see coming.
One group member was split off separately and spent ten minutes with a mysterious woman who turned out to be the Lion, who revealed she'd already located Dorothy and was playing both sides. Outside the venue, calling the phone number she provided connected to a frantic recorded warning to stay away — a hook that left us wanting the next chapter immediately.
A Better Set Than The Key
Staged in an abandoned building in Little Armenia, the set felt appropriately creepy and underground — a clear step up from the backyard-tent staging of the first chapter, even with minimal decoration.
We Recommend This To Readers Who:
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Already saw The Key
The Axe builds directly on the first Kansas Collection chapter and raises the emotional and production stakes.
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Want theater-caliber acting on a budget
At $15, the performances compare favorably to a much pricier Pantages show.
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Like a moody, underground atmosphere
The abandoned Little Armenia building suits the story better than a typical staged set.
A Closer Look
The Bottom Line
The Axe pushes the Kansas Collection's acting, story, and atmosphere further than its predecessor, all for the same $15 ticket. We'll be first in line for whatever comes next.
