What I liked
Warning: this review contains spoilers! An impressive attempt with effective staging and bold lighting choices. Adam Frost-Venrick has conquered stillness.
What I didn't like
There were so many elements to this story that were so close to hitting the mark, and yet missed. There are dramaturgical issues that need addressing, the biggest sin being this beef: Please take care of your audience. Either break the fourth wall completely and live with us in the moment, or do not, but the half-commitment is cowardly. Trust is broken between performer and audience when audience answers a question but is cut off and requested response ignored.
The meat of the piece comes after the 49 minute long ghost story, which wavered between excellent writing/horror storytelling and subpar drivel. If this piece is pursued in the future, I strongly urge the artists involved to pursue starting from this point, and trust that their audience is down for the thrill ride of exorcizing a demon that may or may not end up inside of them.
From a spectacle standpoint, the half-commitment to costume of a clearly period piece was jarring and while I’m sure the amulet necklace looks really cool up close, from the second row it appeared to be a glowing avocado and I spent way too much time judging it, probably because of the monotone delivery of our antihero’s haunted past. (And why does the demon have the same rate of speech? This was a missed opportunity for the performer to exercise their chops. )
Similarly, the props… Why was there a Ziploc bag filled with undetermined body parts when there should’ve been a clear vial? We’re not talking bust-the-bank props here. And please don’t spray the audience with the aforementioned gloopy mess as you chuck the lot ‘cross stage. I do hope that was an accident. And the glittery barrette is so fire I think my kid would wear it. The anachronisms are not earned.
And, this might feel nitpicky, but this is 2026. The person doing your preshow announcement should know how to pronounce “San Gabrielino” and “Tongva.”
Not a good look.
In short, dear butcher, cut the fat. There’s a good piece of meat underneath.
My overall impression
Those with a patient palate for the macabre will find refuge in this twisted piece of theatrics.
