On Stage: The Haunting of Spook Mansion (By Ghosts)

Combine a top Australian comedy writer and director with equally talented actors and you get the new highly entertaining play, The Haunting of Spook Mansion (By Ghosts).

Playing at Chapel off Chapel, the 75-minute play was written by Michael Ward and directed by Russell Fletcher and stars Peter Houghton, Emily Taheny and Ben Russell.

Described as a supernatural comedy, The Haunting of Spook Mansion (By Ghosts) tells of the trials and tribulations of paranormal investigator Adrian Chambers (Houghton).

We first meet Chambers, a renowned paranormal sceptic, at a reading of his latest book on what he calls ‘paranormal bullshitery’.

Given there’s only one audience member, Beth Jackson (Taheny) we quickly realise sales of this and his previous books have not been going well.

The interactions between the self-confident Adrian and Beth further reveal he’s broke.  Thus, her offer of $500,000 to spend the night in a haunted house, Spook Mansion, proves irresistible especially as Chambers’  reputation is based on there being no such thing as ghosts.

But what he doesn’t realise is Beth and her brother (Russell) have an ulterior motive in getting him to Spook Mansion. It’s a motive that proves far scarier for Adrian than the possibility of a ghost or two!

All three of the show’s actors do a great job in bringing to life the show’s often very humorous lines which include plenty of modern-day references including to the television show, The Block, which got some of the loudest laughs from audience members.

Watching Taheny’s first interactions with Chambers at his book reading and her performance of a séance at Spook Mansion are amongst the show’s highlights.

The play also allows Houghton to showcase his comic timing. While Russell’s part in the play is less than the two leads, he also delivers a couple of great lines with aplomb.

According to Ward, bringing horror and comedy together on stage felt natural as they have a lot in common.

“As a horror and comedy fan, I’d love to see more shows like Spook.  While stand-up comedy and musicals are ubiquitous, original comedy plays – especially genre-based – seem quite rare,” he explained.

“Australian horror is booming at the cinema – why not in the theatre as well?”

Given the reaction of the audience on opening night of the play it’s a good question!

The Haunting of Spook Mansion (By Ghosts) is playing at Chapel Off Chapel until November 23.  Visit the Chapel Off Chapel website for more information and tickets.

*Photo credit:  Darren Gill

Jenny Burns attended the opening night of The Haunting of Spook Mansion (By Ghosts) as a guest of the production company.