Review: 'Bedtime Stories and Other Horrifying Tales' at 4th Line Theatre

Well, I wasn’t certain if it could be done as Artistic Director Kim Blackwell stated in her Director/Co-Playwright’s note this whole experience was ‘unchartered’ for 4th Line Theatre in following the local health unit and local, provincial and federal government guidelines.

I’m happy to say they made it work and made it happen while ensuring everyone’s safety involved in this world premiere. I did feel safe in walking around as audience members clearly wore their masks.  A couple of times people were a tad too close for my liking, so I tried to make sure I lingered behind, but didn’t stray too far as it is pitch black out in the Winslow fields.

Just a future note to upcoming audience members this week to dress warmly and to carry a small flashlight as you will be led on a course throughout the Winslow farm at night. I know that past performances sometimes involved moving around the farm; however, this was my first experience in doing so. If you wear glasses, take note that mine kept fogging up periodically and I had to remove them and wipe the mist/dew from them. 

It certainly was a beautiful but cold night, and the stars in the night sky are absolutely gorgeous to admire and appreciate from a distance. And just to keep you intrigued – a possible flying object was spotted by several us as we were walking around that night. The object was a long rectangular object lit up on all sides.  If anything, that sighting did pique our interest.  Part of the production?  A flying object?  I attended the production with my sister, brother in law and two of their friends and we did chat about that over a late night dessert after.

It is a dark fall night in 1835, Cavan Ontario. (I love the fact 4th Line writes about local people). Ten year old Samuel Deyell (Lev Khaimovich) rushes out into the dark night to search for his mother, Margaret (Rebecca Auerbach) who is pregnant and has been cast out by a tyrannical John Deyell (Jack Nicholsen), father of Samuel and husband to Margaret.  John believes that Margaret has been unfaithful and that the child is not his but Margaret’s cousin. On his mission to find his mother, Samuel is joined by his best friends, Sarah Grandy (Rylee Dixon) and Eliza Coe (Skyleigh Hurd).  As this adventurous trio does their best to find Margaret, they (and we) are led on an adventure surrounding past, dark secrets of historical citizens of Millbrook and Cavan. There is a subplot involving tension between Irish Protestants and Irish Catholics along with simmering feuds within individual family members.

A very simple set design surrounded by the darkness set up an eerie atmosphere for me. Up stage left was a child’s bed with a candle on an end table.  Far stage left was a mirror.  Upstage on the back wall were three children marionette puppets. There was an open door at the back, and periodically there a haunting breeze blew a backstage curtain in and out while the audience was seated.  I don’t know if that effect was intentional or not, but it worked nicely for me.

Once again, I’m always pleased to hear Justin Hiscox’s original composition of music throughout. Esther Vincent’s lighting design nicely accentuated those moments at the top of the show to get the story in motion. I especially liked the criss cross lighting effects in the fields as we walked around to see the story unfold before us. Madison Costello’s costume designs nicely reflected the late 1775 period of Upper Canada. What really impressed me was the cast’s moving adroitly from scene to scene among the fields in the dark so I have to acknowledge Sarah Flanigan and Christine Mepstead in making sure the actors were timely in arriving at their scenes so promptly.

Some very clever and surprising behind the scene tricks underscored this original story which, at times, was part fantasy and part horror thanks to co-playwrights Lindy Finlan and Kim Blackwell.  Again, in their program notes, Ms. Finlan and Ms. Blackwell gave thanks to the Grade 5/6 students at Millbrook/South Cavan Public Schools who shared their fears, nightmares, and thoughts about all things scary. I was especially amazed at the sound of The Voice that Samuel hears periodically on our journey around the farm. Scene changes were done with a bang on a pot or a cymbal. Some of the company members hide in the bushes and will scream and reach out to audience members, all in good fun.  I don’t want to spoil what happens at the conclusion of the play, but there is a really neat trick performed by an actor that sent shivers down my spine.

I have to applaud 4th Line again for their casting of local and Equity actors.  Unfortunately, space does not allow me to mention every single performer. Lev Khaimovich is a delightfully precocious Samuel. Jack Nicholsen’s (yes, I’m assuming it’s pronounced in the same manner as the other Jack) adeptly plays a villainous scoundrel of husband, John, and a splendidly creepy Grimaldi, the clown. As expectant mother Margaret Deyell, Rebecca Auerbach poignantly played at my heart at the top of the show when she is thrown out of her house.  There was one moment while we were walking around the farm when Margaret appears.  Ms. Auerbach beautifully showed in her movements and gaits that she was tired from walking which once again added to the human element of the play. The marionette trio of Jean (Robert Winslow), Gen (Rebecca Auerbach) and Jeanne (Tom Keat) was a riot to watch.  It was exquisite to watch and to listen to the comic timing between these three and they were in the trees.  Nice stuff here.

I hear ‘Bedtime Stories and Other Horrifying Tales’ is sold out for the remainder of the run. However, you could always try calling 705-932-4445 or 1-800-814-0055 or visit 4thLineTheatre.on.ca if there’s a waiting list or last-minute ticket sales.

Performances continue October 27-30 inclusive, at 7:00 pm at the Winslow Farm, 779 Zion Line, Millbrook, Ontario.

Performance runs approximately two hours with no intermission.

Performers: Rebecca Auerbach, Rylee Dixon, Mark Hiscox, Skyleigh Hurd, Soleil Hurd, Tom Keat, Emma Khaimovich, Lev Khaimovich, Caiomhe MacQuarrie, Dierbhile MacQuarrie, Riordan MacQuarrie, Saoirse MacQuarrie, Siobhan MacQuarrie, Jack Nicholsen, Tristan Pierce, Kelsey Powell, Lucas Pronk Madison Sheward, Riley Tutert, Robert Winslow

Writers: Kim Blackwell and Lindy Finlan; Director: Kim Blackwell; Musical Direction, Original Composition: Justin Hiscox; Costume Design: Madison Costello; Stage Manager: Sarah Flanigan; Assistant Stage Manager: Christine Mepstead; Choreographer: Madison Sheward; Lighting Designer: Esther Vincent; Fight Direction: Tom Keat; Rigging: Upstage Productions.

Picture of some members of the cast of ‘Bedtime Stores and Other Horrifying Tales’ by Wayne Eardley, Brookside Studio.