“The Haunting of Hill House,” Bellevue Little Theatre’s November offering, is based on a novel by Shirley Jackson. You may not think you have ready anything by Shirley Jackson. But you almost certainly have.
Shirley Jackson wrote “The Lottery,” the ubiquitous 1948 short story about the citizens of a bucolic small town holding their annual June lottery. The winner is then stoned to death.
“The Lottery” has become one of the most anthologized short stories in American literature, giving school children sleepless nights for generations. Jackson went on to write “The Haunting of Hill House,” which was nominated for a National Book Award in 1959 and is generally considered one of the greatest horror novels every written. Stephen King’s “The Shining” was heavily influenced by Jackson’s novel.
BLT promises patrons plenty of sleepless nights with its November production of the stage adaptation.
Directed by Daena Schweiger, the play is set in the Hill House, the scene of several past violent deaths. Dr. Montague (played by Gordon Spencer) invites several guests to stay in the house and investigate paranormal activity. The house does not disappoint.
The cast also includes Geana Schneider, Gretchen Venteicher, Ryan Fuller, Sherry Josand Fletcher, Stacy Hopkins, and Dianne Jones.
Schweiger has always been a fan of old school horror, and she has both written and directed stage productions of them. “Hill House” is as old school as you can get. “It’s a story with both internal and external horror,” says Schweiger. “The house is the external force, and it catches at you. Meanwhile, madness begins to take hold as an internal force for one character. There won’t be a happy ending.” Perhaps not at Hill House. But there is joy at Bellevue Little Theatre, where Halloween will last an extra three weekends.
“The Haunting of Hill House” at Bellevue Little Theatre will run for three consecutive weekends, from November 4 through November 20. Shows are Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30, with Sunday matinees at 2:00. There will be a TAG Nite Out on Thursday, November 3. Ticket prices are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $10 for students with proper ID. The Bellevue Little Theatre is located at 203 West Mission Avenue in Olde Towne Bellevue. Tickets are available by calling the Bellevue Little Theatre Box at 402-291-1554 between 10:00 am and 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. For more information, call the theater or check out their website at: http://www.bellevuelittletheatre.com/.