Courtney Brummer - Daily Nonpareil
Ready for a good scare and a good laugh at the same time? The Shelterbelt Theatre easily provides both with ``ShelterSkelter 9,`` which is now running through Halloween. This is the ninth year for the production which changes every year as a new collection of Halloween-esque one-act sketchs are brought to eager audiences. It`s a howl, in every sense. Of the 10 one-acts, only one is really scary and I was not surprised that it came from local playwright Tim Kaldahl. ``This is a Dark Ride`` is indeed just that, a dark rollercoaster ride of suspense that had audience members either on the edge of their seats or recoiling back into them. Accomplishing such seemed easy to do for actor Nick Zadina, who could be found in most of the one-acts presented. Brooding and sadistic, Zadina made his character someone no one in the audience would ever want to know in real life. Essentially, he was fantastic. He and Sarah Podendorf, who also turned in a good performance, played off of each other with perfect timing making the audience feel like flies on the wall in this twisted mind game. If the word ``Wow`` doesn`t spring from your lips after that one, you weren`t at the same theater I was at. Among the funnier bits was ``It Takes All Kinds`` written by Nora Vetter making those of us in the audience who were married grateful we are out of the dating scene. A funny take on the dangers of blind dates. ``May I Help You?`` also by Vetter, is a jumpy yet comical sketch which will have audience members questioning how badly they want to use a coupon next time they go to the market. ``Fine Print`` by Joe Basque puts temptation in the spotlight as asks the question, ``How far would you go for a million dollars?`` ``It Ain`t My Time`` by William Campbell is the shows closing skit which is just as well because it would be hard to follow with anything better. Zadina plays a hitman who just doesn`t know when to give up. All in all, ``ShelterSkelter 9`` is a fun experience that should not be passed up this Halloween.
|
