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Home - Theater
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Haunting on California Street
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Shelterskelter is baaaaaaaaaack
by Patricia Sindelar
If the leaves are falling, the wind is blowing, and Nebraska’s football team has lost to a ranked team, then it’s probably time return to the theater — specifically, to the one on east California Street.
After more than a decade, Omahans have come to rely on the Shelterbelt Theatre for live horror splashed with comedy. This year’s show offers the same range of the psyche, from disturbingly dark to just funny.
Shelterskelter 14 includes 10 shorts designed to make the audience laugh and cringe. Shelterbelt board member, technical director, set designer and one of Shelterskelter 14’s directors, Adam Nathan, said the annual spectacle is one of the theater’s best.
“Personally, it’s my favorite,” Nathan said. “It’s one of the best known Shelterbelt productions.”
A description of each of the 10 one-acts is on the theater’s website, but Nathan gave a rundown of each in his own words:
Anniversary — a brother and sister-in-law meet a couple in a park, with a surprise ending. This one is very dark.
Damn Spot is about a woman and a priest and her possessed floor. It’s a funny, humorous play.
Fornight of the Living Dead — this is one I’m directing. It’s more slapstick humor about modern day zombies on a college campus. One of the zombies steals hearts. Not literally, but everyone loves him.
Georgie Gets a Facelift is a dramedy about a guy who loses his job, and about some of the bad decisions he’s made involving himself, his mother and a girl scout. Not like you’re thinking, though.
Hemo Phobia — another comedy set in an eerie cemetery with vampires and ghosts, and there are a couple paranormal investigators.
Old Friends — this is another one I’m directing about a prostitute and a gentleman who realize they have more in common than their present meeting.
One Danger of Routine is basically a story about how routine can be dangerous. It was inspired by the BTK Killer in Kansas City, about how a constant routine can be deadly when someone is watching.
Safe is about how far sisterly love can go, and it’s very dark.
Never Wear a Dead Man’s Shoes — a comedy about folklore connecting the past and present.
The Inciting Incident — let’s just say you never know who your neighbors are. This one is dark.
If the teaser for Georgie Gets a Facelift isn’t enough by itself, Nathan promises excitement and surprises.
“There will be gunshots … And a special tribute at the end that isn’t listed in the program. I can’t give away any more details than that.”
Shelterskelter is one of the Metro’s best known live horror shows, and a live horror show has unique challenges, which are exacerbated when the entire play changes about every 10 minutes.
“The most difficult part about doing horror on stage is that you have blood and gore,” Nathan said. “Both applying and clean up have to be a quick change. The actors go off and come back on and so it’s very quick applications. And then, before the next show, you have to get it cleaned up. We purposely scheduled the ones with the most blood at the end of the first act and at the end of the show.”
Nathan may be a little biased, but still picked one of his skits as his favorite of the 10.
“My personal favorite is Fortnight. It’s just a good ol’ fashioned zombie story, but with a twist. And it’s pretty funny.”
Like its predecessors, Shelterskelter 14 is a well-rounded trip through the macabre.
“It’s a really good mix of scary, creepy, gory and comedy. There’s definitely something for everyone, as long as you like the Halloween-esque theme.”
Shelterskelter 14 is at the Shelterbelt Theatre, 3225 California St., Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 6 p.m., and one show, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 8 p.m., through Oct. 31. Tickets are $8 or two for $15 Oct. 9-11, regular admission $12-$15, all seats $20 Oct. 31. For tickets call 341.2757 or visit shelterbelt.org. |
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