PopHorror Let's Get Scared
In history, there are two worlds that have never quite collided: Broadway and horror. In Joe Mantello’s latest play, Grey House, the two finally merge together like a hot knife into butter. With a cast chock-full of talent, like Laurie Metcalf (Scream 2 1997), Tatiana Maslany (She-Hulk 2022), Sophia Anne Caruso (The School for Good and Evil 2022) and Millicent Simmonds (A Quiet Place 2018), Grey House has scenes so terrifyingly real, you’ll be thanking God (or Satan) that the horrors are confined to the stage.
PopHorror was lucky enough to be invited to see a special showing of the performance. Before watching, I thought to myself, “How the hell can a play be scary?” Well, not only was Grey House creepy enough to make my skin crawl all the way out the door and wait for me in the lobby, it had jump scares that snuck up on everyone in the theater. I know! I’m just as shocked as you are. While too many jump scares take away from the story, this play has the perfect balance to keep theatergoers on the edge of their seats.
While Grey House is no stranger to terror, viewers will be surprised at how flexible of a funny bone the story has. There are a lot of laugh out loud moments from beginning to end. The dry humor matches the overall tone of the story. I appreciate that it wasn’t over-the-top slapstick, but rather a much more subdued type of comedy, and the horror elements jive really well.
The horror in Grey House is a lot less in your face and leaves a lot to the imagination. This is definitely not a story you should experience without your thinking cap. The multi-layered tale, told over 100 minutes, can be enjoyed as is, but to get the full experience requires discussion and deep thinking… or, at least, a quick Reddit search.
During an exclusive Q&A before the show, the cast and crew frequently stated that the less you know about the show, the better. As someone who knew diddle-squat going in, I think this is the best way to experience Grey House. A basic understanding of the plot and a thirst to get your mind blown is all you need upon walking through the theater doors.
Every actor brought so much to the table portraying their respective characters. Laurie Metcalf was the center of a lot of the funniest moments, but the stand-outs were Millicent Simmonds and Sophia Anne Caruso. Without saying a word, Simmonds effortlessly developed herself as a unique addition of a pistachio in the ever-growing nuthouse of characters. Caruso’s performance is unnatural and almost robotic… Which, in any other circumstance, would be an insult. In this case, that’s exactly what the character is used for; to create unease.
Grey House isn’t a play; it’s an experience. One with a story that stays with you long after you leave the theater. It’s been a few days since I’ve seen it, and I still remember certain scenes and dialogue like it’s seared into my brain. From scary, to creepy, to funny, Grey House has all the key ingredients for an instant classic that will surely please anyone who is lucky enough to see this masterpiece. If you can, be sure to pay a visit to the creepiest house in all of New York. Remember, you can stay as long as they’d like…
