SHELTERSKELTER XIV: A Mixed Bag of Halloween Goodies Can Be Found at The Shelterbelt

      Halloween is quickly approaching and there is nothing better to get you in the mood for its zombies, witches and vampires than a trip to The Shelterbelt Theatre to partake in Shelterskelter XIV, a mixed bag of creepy one-acts, intense pyschological thrillers and darkly comic sketches.

      If you have never been to the Shelterbelt, it is a unique theatre expereince. The seating area is cozy and intimate, keeping patrons as close to the stage as possible. You feel a direct connect with the actors and the world they are inhabiting. This is extremely effective in Shelterskelter XIV, especially during the evenings fourth one-act entitled The Danger of Routine. The chilling ramblings of a serial killer and the violence inflicted upon his victim are effectively witnessed first hand, as if you are hiding in a closet and hoping he wont find you. This is easily the evening's most effective piece, with director Derrick Crawford setting the perfect pace, teasing the audience and then pulling back. Andy Niess inhabits the guise of a man "with a problem." Niess has a great deal of focus and remove, intimidating and threatening from the minute the lights go up. Allison Moore, as his victim, conveys fear unlike anyone I have ever seen. Her screams are blood curdling and the look in her eyes as she stares down her possible death are enough to bring you to tears.

     Another intense piece, but this one leaning toward the comedic, is also directed by Crawford. The Inciting Incident is a tour-de-force for actor Eric Grant-Leanna whose take on a paranoic screenwriter is a lesson in how physical and intellectual comedy should be played. It's as if he invokes the spirits of both Paul Lynde and Rex Harrison, wildly physical but assured and capable in delivering long comedic diatribes. Grant-Leanna also stood out in the evening's first one-act entitled Georgie Gets a Facelift, portraying a suicidal schlemiel.

   Many of the plays offer broad comedy, the most hilarious being Damn Spot, an orgasmic look at what happens when a priest is brought in to exorcise a spirit that keeps "pleasuring" those who come in contact with it. Jay Huse and Liz Mulhern manage to keep straight faces through some of the most hilarious moments and one-liners ever witnessed in the theatre. Hilarity also comes in the form of Brandy Legget, who hits every note perfectly as a psychotic tourist,sharing some delicious comic moments with Andy Niess in Anniversary.

    A few of the pieces fall short of their mark. Hemo Phobia and Never Wear a Dead Man's Shoes suffer from sub par, sophomoric writing, despite able directing and performing in each. Safe is well acted, especially by Maddie Radcliff, but emotionally overwrought and seems somewhat out of place with the rest of the evenings offerings. Old Friends has some nice builds and good acting, but doesn't quite pay off in the end.

    The evening concludes with the whacky, zombie spoof Fortnight of the Living Dead. The piece itself plays like a Saturday Night live sketch, but the gorey makeup effects are brilliant and the jokes are surprisingly twisted and funny. The real treat of the evening is the curtain call. I wont spoil it for you, but suffice to say that this is probably my favorite finale I have ever experienced.

      Shelterskelter XIV plays through October 31st and is a fun night at the theatre, especially for those with a wicked sense of humor and penchant for the macabre. For information about tickets, visit www.shelterbelt.org.