It’s officially that time of year. The temperature is cooling down, the sun is setting earlier, and the spooky, Halloween vibe is starting to take over. If this is the time of year where you typically shine, then Rough House’s newest installment is not one that you want to miss.
Expertly directed by puppet artists Felix Mayes and Corey Smith, House of the Exquisite Corpse is a horror event comprising six short pieces, all inspired by the theme of blood. Completely told through puppets, the stories range from power-hungry scientists to monsters and post-apocalyptic explorations. Each piece is unique in its own way, particularly in how it engages audiences and invites them to lean into the storytelling.
The horror does not stop with the stories themselves. The entire space is transformed through a collaboration amongst Mayes and Smith’s top-notch designers. Audience members travel from vignette to vignette. While each story takes place in its own contained room, the in-between moments continue the journey. No matter where you look, there is always a hint of blood or danger to come. Lighting designers Quinn Chisenhall and Brendan Marble keep the space dimly lit, allowing shadows to heighten the tension. Sound designer Mike Meegan is specific in their work, ensuring that silence is rare but intentional. The result is an immersive experience from start to finish, allowing audience members to fully embrace the horror themes in the art.
Each piece approaches the horror genre in its unique way. Some of the stories rely more on the highly detailed work of the puppets and sound design, which alone makes an extraordinary piece of art. The puppets are pieces of horror in themselves, and the skilled puppeteers do not hold back in how they bring them to life.
Others have fully fleshed-out stories, some even bridging on the side of psychological thrillers. Blood & Letting, created by Madigan Burke and Nina D’Angier, is a prime example, and offers an experience that heavily relies on audience participation. When audiences approach this room, they are invited to sit down and put their hands through a small hole in the wall. As the narrator begins his tale, we are asked to “pump blood” into the room through a small mechanism. Outside of the narration, the story is told through shadow puppetry. I do not want to give too many details away, but you might find yourself so immersed in the beauty of the storytelling that you do not realize the horror of the “blood pump” mechanism until it is too late.
With the perfect blend of wonder and terror, House of the Exquisite Corpse is like nothing I have experienced before. The puppets alone are impressive. The added layer of creative storytelling and potent writing make for a night to remember.
House of the Exquisite Corpse runs through November 1 at Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s Merle Reskin Garage, 1624 N. Halsted St. For tickets and information, see Rough House Theater’s website. Running time is 45 minutes without intermission.
For more information on this and other productions, see theatreinchicago.com.
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