Thursday, 12 October 2006
Doom service: 'Hotel Frankenstein,' 'Shadowbrook Mansion' take up residence at VCP Print E-mail
MARCIE JESSEE - Daily Herald   

It's "Double, Double, Toil and Trouble," at Valley Center Playhouse when two comedies take the stage in celebration of the spooky season.

The Lindon playhouse is presenting "Hotel Frankenstein," on Mondays and Saturdays, along with "Shadowbrook Mansion," on Thursdays and Fridays, for the month of October.

"Shadowbrook Mansion" has a full cast of Halloween's haunting ghouls and goblins. The Shadow lives at the mansion and needs the help of his monster friends to concoct a potion that will make him mortal forever.

"It's a little on the corny side," said Dana Anquoe, director and cast member playing Aunt Tilly. "But it's a lot of fun and really funny."

The cheesy humor is entertainingly portrayed by the over-the-top characters, Anquoe said.

"With a play like this, you can't go halfway," Anquoe said.

"You have to completely embrace your character, or it doesn't come off quite right," she said.

Anquoe said the actors have spent a good deal of time studying their characters and preparing costumes and makeup to become the comical creatures.

"Hotel Frankenstein" is host to more of Halloween's favorite characters such as Dracula, the Wolfman and, of course, Frankenstein.

This is the play's 25th year at the playhouse, and director Mike Black said the long run is because it is such a great family show.

"It's just a lot of fun," Black said. "People love the thing. It's almost got a cult following. People have raised their families on it and are now bringing their kids to see it."

The play follows the story of Dr. Frankenstein in need of a new brain for his monster, so he turns his castle into a hotel. The pickings are slim when the Woodknocker family arrives, and his plans are complicated by the surprise visits of several monster friends.

Black describes the Halloween spoof as a melodrama that entertains all ages.

This is Black's fourth year directing the play, and he said each year he will do something a little different.

"I try to make it fresh every year because people have seen it so many years," Black said.

If you go:

"Shadowbrook Mansion" and "Hotel Frankenstein"

When: Shadowbrook plays every Saturday and Monday through Oct. 30. Frankenstein plays every Thursday and Friday through Oct. 27. All plays begin at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Valley Center Playhouse, 780 N. 200 East, Lindon

Tickets: $6 adult, $5 students, children and seniors. $25 per family.

Info: 785-1186, vcpnews.com

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