What: Alone
Where: St. Andrew's School Gymnasium, 1002 Pandora Ave.
When: Aug. 25, 26; Sept. 1 and 2
Rating: ***1/2
You don聮t come across horror plays too often in general, so if you聮ve been craving an encounter with some demons, Alone delivers.
The new play by Victoria playwright R. Matthew S. harkens back to the classic setting of the Catholic Church 聴 and the minds of those within it, searching for answers in a lonely world. The story centres on a boy, found curled and bloody at the foot of an altar, who has been acting unusually ever since. Neighbours report that the flowers in his yard are dead, animals have been disappearing in his midst and he聮s developed a crippling fear of darkness. Exorcist Elliot Lynch (Alex Frankson) is called in to investigate and faces an opponent in Father Daniels, the boy聮s friend and confidante, who insists his problems are mental and should be dealt with by doctors.
Though the play is still in the workshop stage (don聮t be surprised by scripts in hand and some timing kinks to work out in line delivery), the cast put on an impressive performance. Frankson stands out, with natural storytelling abilities that shine in his sermon delivery. Some themes are predictable 聴 exorcism and creepy priests who call 14-year-old boys their special 聯friends聰 aren聮t new ground for Catholic Church lore. But the script is strong and the story engaging.
