How did you spend your Halloween…'handing out treats, chaperoning little tikes out gathering candy, parties with friends? A group of our family chose an evening in the country…a big old house, a marvelous view of the countryside…then darkness and….. EEEEECK!!
Combined Efforts Theatre's home in rural Iowa City presented a spookatively fun night…This local group combines the talents of special needs & non-special needs performers, entertaining with uniquely distinctive productions…And, no, the flames are NOT what's left of the lovely home in the first photo!
October 31st found an audience gathering to enjoy what promised to be a wicked good time outside in the dark of a country farm…sharing some spooky moments together...
One of our 'hosts' for the evenings events…
Our co-host…opening the scary skits on the gracious front porch of the farm house, which doubles as a 'stage' for many of the groups shows...
After welcoming the chilly crowd, bundled in mufflers, mittens, hats & jackets…We were invited to follow our hosts around the grounds of the haunted farm yard...
A brief interruption as one of the performers informs us of her rivalry with another actor vying for the same role...
After a devious plot, we assume we will not be bothered by the interloper for the evening...
A U of I witch…well, what did you expect?? We're in Hawkeye country...
It would seem there are a number of witches waiting in the crowd...
Will we see this intimidating creature again on tonight's adventures? SMILE for the camera, please!
'More like it…a smiling, friendly witch...
…and yet another….
Elvis?? In Iowa City? Well, he may have left the building…but NOT Iowa, folks!
A Combined Efforts 'regular'…she appears in many of the productions…a gifted comedian….
Time to head into the dark woods to find what awaits us…Imagination is a wonderful thing for us to conjur up spooky thoughts….Eeeck…a blue tree!
Aha! It wouldn't be Halloween without those darned witches...
But these two are 400 year old sisters...
…Who happen to 'fly' around the Hamptons with one Martha Stewart sharing recipes for stew...
Attending an evening with this group, you are assured of wonderfully written timely dialogue…tonight is no exception...
While stirring the caldron 'counter clockwise' and discussing the merits of dog hair & lizards for flavor…it is time to move on...
Our trusty hosts, lead the way through the woods to our next stop...
Here, again, one of the 'regulars' who's multi-talented performances add to every event...
Tonight in gravely, low voice he sings a tale of spooky reprise...
He is one of my favorite performers…adaptable to any role required…
A cup of hot toddy...
…and we are left to wander on...
Dark nights are made for even simple 'props' to become wonderfully ominous...
A hint of a person is seen beyond the dangling skeleton...
Imagination…human beings gift...
And…she appears...
That Old Black Magic...
…has me in it's spell...
…that old black magic you weave so well...
…The perfect 'romantic' Halloween' song…by a perfectly talented young performer!
'Dog man' appears, with piercing howls & scary growls…'just to jangle your nerves...
The always spooky 'haunted house' tale...
Two boys, a girl…a dare…With a serial killer on the loose, who will enter the house with strange noises coming from within???
In this humorous sketch…the girl has the last laugh (and it, of course, must include an AX!)...
FRANKENSTEIN!
My favorite part of the evening…the devoted helper...
…the mad scientist...
Now this kid was GREAT!!
'Love this look of anguish…well, liked the shadow effect too!
The plot thickens...
The dead brought to the laboratory (that would be LA-BOR-A-TORY, thank you)….
Yup…it's Halloween, black nails…clammy hands…Oh, it was my hands that were clammy!
The body is dug up and moved to the operating table…(use your imagination, remember!)
The scientist works his magic on the body...
Brains are removed, replaced...
AWAKE…AWAKE!!
The angered frustration escalates...
'You are now to waken, I have created you'….
'We must wait'...
He jerks to life…the monster lives...
Well, here he is…Elvis to sing 'One Eyed Purple People Eater'…as the crowd warms their fingers n' toes around the flaming embers…There were marshmallows & cookies following...
Chris, a 'story teller' extraordinaire...
Absolutely delightful...
I do not think I ever appreciated the talent involved in this art...
Can you not see this woman's charisma??
She had the entire group completely involved in her delicious tale...
It took only minutes and everyone was following her instructions as if she was The Pied Piper…perhaps she was...
'Shivering & tired niece, Julie…she heads home to DesMoines after a fun filled Halloween evening with family…and to thaw out…but it was WELL worth it!!
Friend Kierra, Julie and great-great niece Nia…bundled up after their night in the spooky woods...
Nia? Can this be my great-great niece…looking so very grown up??
Nighty night, Sweet Girls…Thanks for joining us!!
A fading fire bids us adieu...
…while a singer croons softly a farewell to the guests…'Couldn't have been a more delightful way to spend a Halloween eve…Thank you, talented Janet…Combined Efforts Theatre director…(on crutches)..the show must go on!! Do not take this stage 'Break a leg' so seriously, Janet!!
