Sitting in the dimly lit August Wilson Theatre, audiences find themselves enveloped in the supernatural thriller of Paranormal Activity. With more than 1,200 theater-goers sharing the experience, the show proves that eerie thrills aren’t confined to dark movie theaters or home basements.
The sound effects play a significant role, enhancing the atmosphere to an extent that may leave you clenching your neighbor’s knee for comfort. Directed by Felix Barrett of the British company Punchdrunk, Paranormal Activity offers more than just jump scares. It draws viewers into an intimate narrative.
This production builds tension through its depiction of a young married couple, played by Cher Álvarez and Travis A. Knight, who have moved to a mysterious house in England. Their relationship is strained, complicated by the husband’s fundamentalist mother, portrayed by Shannon Cochran. Subtle lighting by Anna Watson gradually reveals the full extent of Fly Davis’s two-story set.
As the plot unfolds, a medium enters, played by Eva Kaminsky, and the house’s secrets come to life. Doors creak, figures appear, and the audience’s understanding is challenged. A twist in Levi Holloway’s script surprises without confusing, maintaining logical coherence that enhances the experience.
The show steers clear of the cliché tropes dominating some horror franchises. It offers a genuine analog story rooted in psychological depth. This creates a plot-driven, engaging experience that avoids pretentiousness while delivering first-rate execution.
Paranormal Activity initially debuted at Chicago Shakespeare Theater with a similar cast, transitioning to Broadway with most of its original elements intact. Despite the glow of exit signs at August Wilson Theatre, the atmosphere remains powerful.
As the show explores themes of past lives and hidden traumas, it provides scares that are both thrilling and thought-provoking. Audiences at the August Wilson Theatre will find themselves pulled into a world where not everything stays buried.