Spend a ghoulish evening at Hill House with the players at Pocket Theatre.
By Lana Pierce
Fancy some ghost-hunting this month? You’ll find the spirits on stage October 3-12 at Pocket Theatre. Just in time for Spooky Season, the theatre presents The Haunting of Hill House. This stage adaptation of the Shirley Jackson story follows the tale of a doctor-turned-paranormal investigator, navigating the mysteries of Hill House. Several unusual guests join him for a ghoulish night inside the minatory mansion.
Patrons of community theatre can anticipate experiencing the grandiose tale on the local stage. Rumor has it that the entire set is new and designed to capture the feel of the ominous mansion on the intimate stage. Similar to the original work by Jackson, the production promises to lean on lighting, shadow, and whispers to create tension and terror in equal parts.
This intimacy is a hallmark of Pocket Theatre, where just a few rows of seats separate audience from stage. There is no safe distance from the action, where onlookers sometimes feel a part of the scene themselves. In a rent-it, stream-it culture, only community theatre offers that experience.
Pocket Theatre is built by and for the community. Volunteer-driven, the theatre brings together businesspeople, teachers, retirees, students, and more to construct sets, perform the background work of a production, and, yes, even to act.
The Pocket Theatre runs more on heart than budget, and ticket sales cover only a fraction of the annual budget. Donations and sponsorships are welcome, and each dollar is a direct investment into the local arts scene.
For more information about giving, visit www.pockettheatre.com.
Pocket Theatre is located at 170 Ravine Street in Hot Springs. Evening performances are Oct 3, 4, 10, and 11, at 7:00 PM. Matinees are Oct 5 and 12 at 2 PM.
Lana Pierce is an author and 19-year veteran of the NLR Fire Department who lives in Hot Springs and owns RetroFit.
