A Seance Spectacular with the Mystical Medium Wolf Sister
Review written by Our Theatre Voice Guest Writer Keilantra Huang
Part comedy and part horror, A Seance Spectacular with the Mystical Medium Wolf Sister by Carly Anna Billings and Cecilia O’Grady is an interactive performance where one lucky audience member gets the chance to join the sisters in communicating with spirits. Creatively, these audience members can be involved in the mystery of discovering and naming ghostly presences. Although the premise is full of fiction and the supernatural, at its core the play is a touching narrative about the tension of growing up and growing apart from others, and how to balance different ambitions and goals within a close relationship.
However, while the narrative itself is well-meaning and full of potential, its impact was stifled by the noncommittal line delivery and acting of the two leads. For instance, O’Grady’s acting was one-dimensional, as she seemingly reacted in the same way for a variety of contexts. On a larger level, the play itself seemed to be confused in its tone. While comedy and horror can mix, in this performance the comedy existed, but the horror was lacklustre. Scenes that are meant to be frightening l(when Lizzy was possessed by the spirit and flailing her hands) are undermined by performances that either weaken their fear factor or make the scenes appear more comedic than intended.
