BWW Reviews: Spirited UPON A MIDNIGHT DREARY at Serenity Bed and Breakfast Inn

"Upon A Midnight Dreary", the first attempt by Jamie Rhoads of John Henry Theatre Company, had a short three performance run at Serenity Bed and Breakfast Inn this weekend. Though it was a rough start, there is the potential percolating with this company.

The Serenity Bed and Breakfast Inn, though a beautiful venue, is not conducive for live theatre or serving food in large quantities. It felt cramped and the audience was spread so thinly across the courtyard, the patrons at the last table could neither see nor hear the action. There wasn't a stage to speak of and the sound system continually put up an argument. The only bathroom (with chicken in the bathtub) was off an ante room where the caterer kept complaining that he didn't have the proper facilities. The food, however, was delicious and was served by a pleasant staff with speed.

The evening started out with a bang. A segment of improv, audience participation and comedy got the crowd intrigued. But after the script took over, the audience became confused. The plot, from what I could hear, was about raising the spirits of classic literary characters and some historical figures. The dialogue was largely lifted from the corresponding source material. The highlight of the evening was Nathan Houseman, performing Poe's "The Raven." At that late point in the evening, the crowd was full, tired and a little drunk, and he still captured the attentions of every patron. The script needs some cleaning up. A clearer through line and cutting a few unnecessary elements (drag, a random burlesque number) would greatly increase the effectiveness of the plot.

The best part of the evening was the enthusiastic vibe the performers and crew created. They were clearly having a great time with their characters each other. The mission of the company is to encourage local talent, in which case, they are off to a great start. For more information on upcoming JHTC events, visit https://www.facebook.com/johnhenrytheater

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