Horror on Haunted Hill

Grey House – A Red Orchid Theatre

This terrifying tale of terror and dread starts the way all good thrillers begin: It was a dark and stormy night. Two weary, wounded travelers seek refuge from the howling wind and raging storm that caused their car to crash. Max and her husband Henry have hit a deer in the blinding blizzard. Henry’s bleeding head wound has left him almost unconscious, while his left ankle appears to be broken. When no one responds to their frantic knocking on the cottage door, the couple hobbles inside calling for help. This is their first mistake and one from which they will never recover.

The only telephone appears to have been gnawed by an animal and is, thus, out of order. Max and Henry think they’re alone in this eerie, rundown cabin, when suddenly they’re surrounded by a group of strange, zombie-like children and a middle-aged woman. The haggard and easily-aggravated matron of the family is named Raleigh, although sometimes the kids call her Mother. Her charges include Marlow, who appears to be the child in charge of everyone else; Bernie, the little deaf/mute girl, who has a distinct feral look about her; a child whose strange moniker is A1656, and is the most amiable member of the group; Squirrel, the daughter who sometimes appears skittish and seems to be an outcast; and The Boy, who doesn’t have a name, speaks very little and seems to be the youngest and most needy of the group. Since one child is deaf, everyone communicates with her, and with each other, both verbally and in American Sign Language. This silent communication, plus the occasional appearance of a wrinkled, old woman called The Ancient, adds much to the mysterious atmosphere of Grey House.  

Together they help move Henry to the sofa, where they remove his shoe and bandage his leg. The old-fashioned refrigerator, which Max checked when they first arrived, originally contained a few food items; but now it’s magically filled with dozens of small jars, each labeled with a name and date and filled with some sort of mysterious, medicinal liquid. As the storm continues to surge and seethe outside, inside the chills and unexpected surprises continue to mount to a terrifying, unexpected conclusion.  

Levi Holloway (author of “The Haven Place” and “Small Mouth Sounds”) is a gifted Red Orchid company member. He’s also been an accomplished actor there, as well as at Steppenwolf, Northlight, Aboutface, Hell in a Handbag, and many other theatres around Chicagoland. Mr. Holloway is also a talented teaching artist and is the co-founder and co-artistic director of the Chicago-based deaf and hearing youth theatre company, The Neverbird Project. Two of his plays, including “Grey House,” will soon find their way to the silver screen, and this reviewer cannot wait!

To say that this is one of the scariest plays ever seen in Chicago, as well as the perfect Halloween treat, is an understatement. Holloway’s horror on haunted hill is based in fearful nightmares and everyday terrors. As the playwright says, “It’s about love and the pain we all carry, and the house we make for them both…It’s about the ghosts of the living and the dead, the past and the future.” His characters are both haunted and doing the haunting. During the 100-minute one-act, they burrow deep into every theatergoer’s subconscious, and will stay with each audience member until long after the final curtain.

Brilliantly directed by Shade Murray, with obvious relish and an attention to minute detail, this production is a true collaboration by many talented artists. First, Mr. Murray’s staging draws each theatergoer into this tale of terror by being up-close-and-personal. His production taps into each audience member’s own fears. Second, Cicely Boggan’s ASL direction guides the characters’ use of sign language, making it feel like an integral part of this story. Third, Kurtis Boetcher’s meticulous scenic design actually becomes another character in this play. In addition, the extraordinary sound and music design by Jeffrey Levin is enhanced by an eerie lighting plot, co-created by Mike Durst and Claire Chrzan. And the property designs by Murray, augmented by special visual effects, courtesy of The Rot Shop, add one more layer of creepiness to this production.

Mr. Murray’s cast is superb. As Max and Henry, lovely Sadieh Rifai and ruggedly handsome Travis A. Knight, both brilliant  Red Orchid ensemble members, are terrific as the victims of this horror story. Ms. Rifai is particularly strong as the somewhat  baffled ingenue who tries to calm her fear and rise to the occasion. Max gradually grows stronger and seizes control over the situation…or does she? It’s through Max’s eyes that this frightening story unfolds. Another company member, the brilliant, always impressive Kirsten Fitzgerald (“Sweat” at the Goodman, “Lettie” at Victory Gardens) once again commands the Red Orchid stage, as Raleigh. It’s incredible how this masterful actress can take a character who the audience should revile and create a woman deserving of our empathy. Seen on just about every major stage in this city, Ms. Fitzgerald is magnificent. And without the use of words, Dado creates a ghostly presence as The Ancient.

The children, each of whom is exceptional, give a powerful performance, so impressive and captivating. Sarah Cartwright is austere, tart and controlling as Marlow; Kayla Casiano gives a particularly haunting performance as the deaf/mute, sometimes animal-like Bernie; Haley Bolithon, playing the bizarrely-named A1656, appears to be the most gentle and kindly child; delicate Autumn Hlava, the derelict little girl called Squirrel, breaks the audience’s heart with her mournful countenance; and young Charlie Herman, who plays The Boy, is a sweet, little child, forever looming in the shadows and always needing a hug. Together this family of ghostly youngsters terrifies the audience with their strange actions and mere presence.

Shade Murray has directed an extraordinary world premiere of Levi Holloway’s delicious, horrifying new play. It’s a wonderful, mysterious drama, full of gore and shocking revelations, and reminiscent of the work of authors Stephen King or Dean Koontz. It’s perfect for any adult theatergoer searching for a chilling Halloween entertainment. The production features a gifted company of actors supported by a talented staff of theatre artists. In every well-written ghost story there’s the occasional laugh; however, anyone walking down Wells Street is far more apt to hear screams of terror coming from inside A Red Orchid Theatre during this production.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas  

Presented October 10-December 1 by A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells St., Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling 312-943-8722 or by going to www.aredorchidtheatre.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.