The weather is (finally) turning cooler, the brightly colored leaves are falling from the trees, which means it must be time for the 13th annual
Twin Cities Horror Festival. Unlike my friends at
Minnesota Theater Love and
The Stages of Minnesota (follow them for full coverage), I am not in general a fan of horror. But I am a fan of this mini Fringe festival that features many of my favorite Fringe artists. So I'm seeing a handful of shows this year (October also happens to be the busiest theater month of the year in general, and this year in particular). I was at the first show of the festival on last Thursday evening before continuing my stretch of five non-TCHF shows in five days, and then returned a few times to see a few more. I saw 7 of the 11 shows this year, read about them below, and
visit the TCHF website for details and tickets (warning: there are sellouts already, particularly in the smaller studio space). Shows continue daily through November 3 at The Crane Theater in Northeast Minneapolis.
The Wrench by Wheeler in the Sky
Andrew Erskine Wheeler has written a compelling drama about the Astor Place Riot of 1849, in which fans of two rival actors, one British and one American, took to the streets and were shot by police who were trying to control the crowd. But it's not so much about the riot itself, as it is about a small group of theater people 30 years later. Andrew plays Roscius, an actor who was injured in the riot and never acted again, speaking in random Shakespeare quotes. Carolyn Pool and Shanan Custer (so lovely to see 2 Sugars Room for Cream duo together again) play two actors who were present for the riots and are currently cast as witches in a 30th anniversary production of the cursed play Macbeth. Siri Hammond is a young and ambitious ingénue, the understudy for Lady Macbeth who will likely be called upon when the lead actor, whom Roscius loves, is injured in a horrible accident. The show is comprised mostly of delightful storytelling and reminiscing by this group (with a late appearance by director Matt Sciple as the jerk in charge). And because this is TCHF, things get a little spooky. And because this is Andrew Erskine Wheeler, there's a connection to his hit Fringe show Booth's Ghost (about that notorious acting family). The Wrench, the meaning of the title will become clear if you watch the show, is great (and sometimes spooky) period storytelling about 19th Century actors, riots, and NYC.
Gh0stChaser04 by A Murder of Crones
This was a last-minute addition to my TCHF schedule, because my friend
The Stages of MN (who's seeing every show this year) had an extra ticket, and I could stop by the Crane on my way to Mixed Blood for their excellent production of
The Ally. I'm so glad I saw this spooky site-specific ghost story set in two time periods that interact in unexpected ways. In 2004 three ghost chasers, who only know each other from the internet, meet at the Kennedy Street warehouse (which is now the Crane Theater) to look into some mysterious occurrences. Gh0stChaser04 (Mickaylee Shaughnessy) is investigating an ancestor who mysteriously died there in 1994, but there have also been other mysterious deaths over the years, until the place was abandoned in 1983. She meets the super cool Night_Raven (Megan Kim), with all the “modern” equipment, and preppie BehindtheWall looking for “the fourth M,” a possible secret military operation. The story switches back and forth from this modern ghost chase to a 1904 ghost chase, with none other than Gh0stChaser04's ancestor (Rita Boersma) and an intrepid reporter (Heather Meyer) investigating some suspicious activities happening at that time. Written by Rachel Teagle and directed by Jenny Moeller, the show is a lot of fun, and more than a little spooky, with all of the characters and time periods and plot lines coming together in a satisfying way at the end. It's chock full of local references (Har Mar Mall, flour mills) and early aughts charm (flip phones, Radio Shack, and chat rooms), with lighting and sound design that adds to the spooky factor.
Campfire Stories by Special When Lit
As the title implies, this is a series of spooky stories one might tell around a campfire. Except that they're true (or so we're told). A rotating cast of storytellers shares a real experience they've had with the supernatural. At the show I attended, Lauren Anderson shared about some spooky things she heard in the 100-year-old farmhouse she grew up in, that may or may not have been a side effect from her inhaler. Shannon Twohy told of seeing her life flash before her eyes, in reverse, during a panic attack. Nissa Nordland also had a childhood apparition story from an old building, this one a little more visceral. Finally, Jex Arzayus shared about a teenage exploration of an urban legend that turned out to be more real than was comfortable. All of them are compelling storytellers, with gripping and spooky stories that keep you on the edge of your seat and send chills down your spine. Creating a soundscape for every show are Nissa and Sam Landman, using various instruments and a looper to make some spooky sounds. Every night is different so this is one you can see multiple times, and what's a fringe festival without some storytelling?
The Night Parade of a Hundred Demons, In Which the Honorable Reverend Matt Employs The Winding Sheet Outfit to Help Him Tell One Hundred Ghost Stories by Reverend Matt and The Winding Sheet Outfit
What's better than a Reverend Matt's Monster Science show? A Reverend Matt's Monster Science show with scenes and stories acted out by The Winding Sheet Outfit. Or rather, the Tiny Clandestines, a sort of subset of TWSO, wearing Victorian costumes and doing silly things (Megan Campbell Lagas, Kayla Dvorak Feld, and Kristina Fjellman). At times their antics distract from Reverend Matt's presentation, much to his annoyance. The two Fringe and TCHF staples have a cute interplay in this show, the Clandestines eager and excited, Rev Matt at times impatient and inwardly rolling his eyes. Each show has a different theme (as is often the case with the Reverend); the one I attended was Shapeshifters, but not just werewolves as Clandestine wrangler/director Amber Bjork was excited to learn. Also foxes and cats and snakes and more. As Rev Matt goes into his nerdy shtick, complete with Power Point slides to illustrate the monsters he's talking about, Amber passes out props and costume pieces to the Clandestines, who for some reason are pretending to drink out of tiny teacups. They don cat masks or fox ears, and move around as the animals. There's a new song every night that's lovely and haunting (not counting when they broke out into a song from
Cats, natch). This is a delightful and funny mash-up of two favorites who do very different things, but manage to bring their diverse skills to the show and create something new and entertaining. And remind us that humans are the real monsters.
The Regular by Occasionally Employed Productions
The Regular is like a sad and scary version of the long-running and beloved sitcom
Cheers. Charlie (Sam Landman) sees himself as the Norm of his local bar, but really he's a functional alcoholic who annoys the bar's employees Teddy (Claire Chenoweth) and Wes (Lukas Ramsey) by overstaying his welcome. He's the only patron near closing time (as seems to be a regular occurrence), when a stranger (Jay Melchior) walks in and whispers to Charlie that he's going to kill him when he leaves the bar. Charlie attempts to get help from Teddy and Wes, until the stranger threatens them too. But when it comes down to it, as much as they like to tease Charlie, they won't let an outsider hurt him. Written and directed by Josh Carson, the show is of course full of pop culture references, including a juke box that mysteriously plays fragments of the most appropriate song (from the last century) at the right time. The bar's young employees like to tease Charlie for his old references, setting up a bit of a generational divide. With some impressively scary fight scenes (choreographed by Annie Enneking) and more than a little blood, in addition to the fun wordplay and witty banter, this show has it all!
Essentially I saw this show because it was playing before the next show that I wanted to see, and I'm really glad I saw it because it's utterly charming! There were definitely more children in the audience than at any other TCHF show (read: any), but this black light puppet show is enjoyable for all ages. Directed by Thalia Kostman and Marc Berg and written by the latter, the dark fairy tale about a hero accomplishing impossible tasks to save the one they love from death (sometimes at a great cost) is acted out by the sweetest (and sometimes scariest) puppets illuminated by black light. The seven puppeteers beautifully give voice to the characters, and manipulate them from the darkness behind so that we almost forget they're there. The fantastical scenery (steep mountains, caves of gold, the blue sea) are represented by two-dimensional set pieces also illuminated. There are ghosts and witches and one-eyed monsters, and human-like creatures experiencing real feelings of grief and love and loss. A couple of songs and a recorded soundtrack (Steven Zubich) add to the lovely experience. Unfortunately their final show is sold out, but
follow Phantom Chorus Theatre for future adventures.
I saved the best of this year's Twin Cities Horror Festival for last - Keith Hovis' "psycological thriller with music."
I will see anything Keith touches because he's such a talented composer, lyricist, and playwright, but I've never seen him quite like this before. He said he turned his anxiety and depression into a horror show, and boy did he! This was the first time in the festival that I felt true horror, and I don't even like horror! But this show is thrilling and chilling and at times uncomfortable to watch. Both for the grossness of some of the stuff that's happening, and also for the raw and real emotions of loneliness, isolation, and desperation on display. Keith plays Wyatt, who speaks to us directly and sometimes includes us in the show in uncomfortable ways, with nowhere to hide in the Crane's intimate studio space (beware the front row center, or make a beeline for it if you're brave). Wyatt has recently (or not so recently) broken up with his boyfriend, and has begun paying people to watch them through a camera in their living room.
Schaulust is a German word (as all good words are) combining the words for look and desire, meaning curiosity or voyeurism. But for Wyatt it seems to go beyond that, like he's feeding off of these people, keeping them close but at a distance. Until, well, things get real dark. The play is presented in four or five parts (with some cool digital displays on the back wall, as well as the recorded video of his subjects, with video design by Brant Miller), and each part features a song. And all of the songs are fantastic. Funny or heart-wrenching, clever and well-constructed. Keith sings into a mic to a recorded musical track, because not even Keith Hovis can give a raw, vulnerable, captivating performance acting and singing material that he wrote, while also accompanying himself on musical instruments (at least not at the same time). Directed by Laura Leffler,
Schaulust is a scary and well executed multi-media thriller, but it also deals with some very real issues of mental illness, relationships, and what we take from people, or what we need from them. Simply the best of the fest. Keith performs the final four nights of the festival and tickets are available for all, but the limited tickets will be gone soon so don't dally!
Andrew Erskine Wheeler has written a compelling drama about the Astor Place Riot of 1849, in which fans of two rival actors, one British and one American, took to the streets and were shot by police who were trying to control the crowd. But it's not so much about the riot itself, as it is about a small group of theater people 30 years later. Andrew plays Roscius, an actor who was injured in the riot and never acted again, speaking in random Shakespeare quotes. Carolyn Pool and Shanan Custer (so lovely to see 2 Sugars Room for Cream duo together again) play two actors who were present for the riots and are currently cast as witches in a 30th anniversary production of the cursed play Macbeth. Siri Hammond is a young and ambitious ingénue, the understudy for Lady Macbeth who will likely be called upon when the lead actor, whom Roscius loves, is injured in a horrible accident. The show is comprised mostly of delightful storytelling and reminiscing by this group (with a late appearance by director Matt Sciple as the jerk in charge). And because this is TCHF, things get a little spooky. And because this is Andrew Erskine Wheeler, there's a connection to his hit Fringe show Booth's Ghost (about that notorious acting family). The Wrench, the meaning of the title will become clear if you watch the show, is great (and sometimes spooky) period storytelling about 19th Century actors, riots, and NYC.
The Regular is like a sad and scary version of the long-running and beloved sitcom Cheers. Charlie (Sam Landman) sees himself as the Norm of his local bar, but really he's a functional alcoholic who annoys the bar's employees Teddy (Claire Chenoweth) and Wes (Lukas Ramsey) by overstaying his welcome. He's the only patron near closing time (as seems to be a regular occurrence), when a stranger (Jay Melchior) walks in and whispers to Charlie that he's going to kill him when he leaves the bar. Charlie attempts to get help from Teddy and Wes, until the stranger threatens them too. But when it comes down to it, as much as they like to tease Charlie, they won't let an outsider hurt him. Written and directed by Josh Carson, the show is of course full of pop culture references, including a juke box that mysteriously plays fragments of the most appropriate song (from the last century) at the right time. The bar's young employees like to tease Charlie for his old references, setting up a bit of a generational divide. With some impressively scary fight scenes (choreographed by Annie Enneking) and more than a little blood, in addition to the fun wordplay and witty banter, this show has it all!
