PopHorror Let's Get Scared
The Haunting of Hill House has become one of the most popular pieces to adapt in all of the annals of horror. What started in 1959 as a gothic novel from the acclaimed Shirley Jackson has been morphed many times. The film versions include The Haunting in 1963 and a less faithful remake in 1999, while Mike Flanagan’s masterful slow-burn series hit Netflix in 2019 (read our theory article here). The stage version of The Haunting of Hill House first terrified audiences in 1964 from the work of F. Andrew Leslie. Recently, Stage Warp Productions took their shot at recreating the legendary Hill House in local theater form in Pittsburgh, and I had the pleasure of attending on November 3, 2023.
Carnegie Stage is where this classic addition to the horror lore takes place, and the venue certainly adds to the experience. This location is stout and compact, with the front row of chairs sitting on the same stage as the performers. Immediately, it gives the sensation that the audience is walking into the famous Hill House, and every creak of the floor provides extra sound design that adds to the tension. This intimacy isn’t just an enhancement for the location though, but also for the actors. Erika Krenn (Done Waiting 2023) plays Eleanor Vance, a reserved moral compass for the larger-than-life events in this foreboding structure. The team tries to study Hill House and observe its patterns, while the house itself preys upon its guests to feed its fear. And there’s plenty in this version of The Haunting of Hill House to be afraid of.
The set design is forced to be small in this space, but this plays to its strengths. Stage Warp Productions uses color coordination to differentiate its rooms, spotlighting the main living quarters and the bedroom area. A lot of transitional action is placed behind the set pieces themselves, but it never makes the audience feel like it misses anything crucial. The fact that we can’t see what’s coming is actually more frightening, enhanced by a piercing red light and a creepy cacophony of sound cues. The less-is-more approach gives us a chance to focus on the characters’ journeys, and the characters in this version of The Haunting of Hill House give us a lot to dive into.
Krenn’s Eleanor and Taylor Javens’ (Be Mine 2022) Theodora provide a wonderful balance filled with laughs and chemistry. While Javens chews the scenery in the best possible way as a Hollywood starlet type, Krenn has a depth that portrays well as Eleanor comes face-to-face with her past and becomes beautifully entranced by the manipulative Hill House. This unlikely sisterhood sits at the emotional heart of the story, while an ensemble fills the background perfectly with chaos and energy. There are no weak links in The Haunting of Hill House, as every character makes an impact and not a second feels wasted. By the end of the play, the audience feels like it has experienced the roller coaster ride with the characters, which is a huge credit to the cast’s performances.
Stage Warp Productions was formed two years ago, and The Haunting of Hill House is their third production thus far. When speaking to company President Alyssa Martin, I asked why they chose this show in particular. She said “We always try to go with shows that aren’t commonly done. It seemed like a challenging show to do, but we felt the show would be beautiful if done in such an intimate space. We wanted the audience to feel like they were part of the house itself, watching the events unfold closely in front of them.“
The Haunting of Hill House still has three shows remaining on November 10 and 11, 2023, and it comes highly recommended. Follow Stage Warp Productions on Facebook for future play information. If this show is any indication, then this company is one to watch out for in the future.
