Open Space Arts: It’s Been Ten Years Since Everyone Died Review
Alexis Queen and Noah Hinton
Open Space Arts Presents IT'S BEEN TEN YEARS SINCE EVERYONE DIED Review - When The Lone Survivor Is Not Just The Token Straight Girl
TLDR: Taking inspiration from the token lone survivor at the end of a scary movie, It’s Been Ten Years Since Everyone Died drops us into the lives of a few people who experienced horrifying murders when they were teens. The show gives us horror/slasher movie vibes as new situations arise blended with unpacking these former friends’ relationships with themselves and each other.
Alexis Queen, Noah Hinton, and Julia Toney
The Final Survivors Support Group Hosted at Open Space Arts
Our story starts with former friends leading their different lives ten years after traumatic events changed their lives forever. They all met in high school. Allison (Noah Hinton) the awkward trans girl. Maude (Julia Toney) the loner that challenges authority and is ready to fight against anything. Betsy (Alexis Queen), captain of the cheerleading squad, speaks softly, and always seems to be able to get her way. And mysterious Sam (Alex Marusich). It seems their friendship couldn’t last past these events and yet fate has brought them together again ten years later where they must reconcile themselves with their pasts.
It’s Been Ten Years Since Everyone Died blends together a horror story and a story about identity. They are all at a different part of their identity journeys and makes us wonder, is this entire journey a metaphor? If you ignore something long enough, does it fester and become uncontrollable? Or does one have nothing to do with the other at all? Or perhaps it’s time for a horror movie to end with someone who isn't a cis-straight female.
Noah Hinton and Alexis Queen
Horror, Slasher Film Vibes
It’s pitch black in the theater and four shadowy figures stand in a line in front of a blank space on the wall. The projector clicks on. One by one they stand straight up as a video clip plays behind them. Someone is running through hallways. Another slams the door behind them. All in different locations but all with something in common - blood. Blood covering their face. Blood dripping in front of them. These memories come back to haunt each of them throughout the course of the show. Repeating over and over again in their minds.
If that wasn’t enough to spook you, fate brings them together for a retreat at a remote cabin in the woods. The plucky, slightly hippy-dippy, flowy skirts therapist tries to be optimistic at the obviously tense reunion, but surprise, surprise, things are about to get worse as a storm approaches. The lights go out. They don’t have cell service. And there is definitely something out there.
Noah Hinton and Julia Toney
The After Party Thoughts
It’s Been Ten Years Since Everyone Died is interesting because there’s the horror movie trope has always been the lone survivor at the end is always a girl. Here, each of our main characters have managed to be the sole survivors of a slew of murderers except there’s the added element of their gender identities. Each of their journeys plays a part in this story and gives us a fresh character take on the token survivor.
But the heart of this show is a horror story. You might think you know where a show called It’s Been Ten Years Since Everyone Died is going because it’s already setting us up for some kind of horror tie-in. However, no spoilers here, so I’ll just say there are many twists and turns that will have audience members gasping in their seats as not only the events unfold before us, but also as we delve into these former friends' past.
If you don’t have a strong stomach, hate the sight of blood, or really, really, can’t stand horror movies, then this show might not be the best fit for you. However, if you’re a fan of horror movies where queer folk are at the center and can handle a few shocking surprises, It’s Been Ten Years Since Everyone Died would be a good fit for you.
RECOMMENDED
Alexis Queen and Julia Toney
When
Now through April 6, 2025
Where
Open Space Arts
1411 W. Wilson Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
Runtime: 90 minutes, no intermission
Tickets
$15+
Tickets can be purchased through the Open Space Arts website
Photos
Tadhg Mitchel
Find Allie and The After Party featured on Theatre in Chicago
Julia Toney, Alex Marusich, and Noah Hinton
CAST
Julia Toney (Maude)
Alexis Queen (Betsy)
Noah Hinton (Allison)
Alex Marusich (Therapist and others)
CREATIVE
Teri Talo (Director)
Bryant Macklemore (Set Designer)
Lex Newman (Lighting Designer)
Shane Hogan (Video Artist)
Kiera Battles (Sound Design)
Anna Rogers (Costume Designer)
Tadhg Mitchel (Social Media Manager)
Veronica Kloss (Graphic Designer)