REVIEW: Emerson Arts FRIGHT NIGHT: Carnival is Monstrous Fun...
Emerson Arts is becoming synonymous with experimental theatre. With several original works under their company banner, they have delved into the surreal, the tragic, the nostalgic and the downright haunting. Their annual FRIGHT NIGHT series has enjoyed three spooky iterations thus far and this year's carnival theme may just be their most polished and gruesome yet.
Audiences are led by the Bearded Lady (an unnerving Renata Ona) through the "backstage" setting of a typical big top travelling carnival. Elements of inspiration can be seen from popular media such as American Horror Story: Freak Show, Carnivale and Nightmare Alley. The daring audience walk the haunted halls of Hamilton's COTTON FACTORY, and gather at various locations as monologues and group scenes play out before them, at times powerless to stop the horrors unfolding as they nervously (or gleefully) watch. It is an immersive and often interactive experience and it works overall, despite some atmospheric missed opportunities in lighting and sound. This is likely due to the safety measures in place for audiences and the cast of creepy carnies so it's understandable but it inevitably takes the audience out of the foreboding nature of the show going from scene to scene.
The synopsis is straightforward. An innocent runaway (a strong performance from Grace M.) finds her new home in the mysterious travelling carnival and she discovers the horrifying truths and sad realities of the one of the happiest places on earth. There's horror tropes galore here: monstrous mother figures, murder, possession, otherworldliness, insanity, blood rituals, sacrifice, and more that I won't spoil here. The script could use a bit of work, if only to fine tune each monologue or scene so that each piece flows more naturally. Due to the type of guided tour the audience undertakes, there is frequently too much silence and not enough engagement or scary atmospheric elements as they weave throughout the factory, which, perhaps unexpectedly, becomes as much a character as the performers themselves.
The strength of FRIGHT NIGHT: Carnival comes from the intense dedication of the actors in their roles. From the malicious Ringmaster (played with frightening delight by Katlyn Alcock) to the disturbingly beautiful dance of the wordless clown (an impressive performance from Ayva Money) and the unexpected uprising from the once-faithful Carnie (played with intense ferocity by DJ Wright), this ensemble has the love of horror and storytelling in their souls.
One of the strongest demonstrations of this comes from the Fortune Teller (a mysterious and playful Grace C.) who charms us during the audience interaction parts and ultimately has one of the best scenes channeling the demonic souls of lost runaways and buried secrets (beware the pianos....). The audience responds to this as expected. Small gasps, gleeful smiles at the gore and violence (bravo to the fight choreography - VERY impressive work here) and a deep feeling of trepidation mixed with nervous laughter throughout.
Emerson Arts will experience one of their most successful FRIGHT NIGHTS to date as the entire run is already sold out. Be sure to reach out if you feel daring enough to be put on a waitlist. It is spooky fun, and the guided tour format works well with the carnival atmosphere. The themes of family, belonging and revenge bring satisfying cohesion to this production and I hope the misfits enjoy this eerie evening of monsters and mayhem.
