Curtain Up: Ghost Brothers of Darkland County at Alliance Theatre

Stephen King is pretty much the Oprah of horror. Everything he touches turns to blood stained gold. His first theater venture, “Ghost Brothers of Darkland County”, is no exception. Filled with twists and turns, blood and murder, and even a little bit of love, this musical breaks all the rules that Broadway has created. If you are looking for the stereotypical show consisting of a jazz-hand filled happy ending, this is not it. But, if you are ready to come out of the theater box, be pulled to the edge of your seat and tap your foot to the Mellencamp created tunes, head to the Alliance before May 13.The play is set in Lake Belle Reve, Mississippi. It’s dark and swampy, and the bluesy feel of the music, written by rocker John Mellencamp, just adds to the decor. The set design was amazing. Old, almost rotten looking wood created a cabin in the woods on stage. Above this was a dive bar reminiscent of something you would see in any rural small town. Taking advantage of every nook and cranny of the stage to provide further opportunities to add a little spook, silent actors would sit in the shadows, atop the water tower in the background or overlooking the cliff where two characters committed suicide.

The lighting played a big part in telling who was alive and who was dead. The characters who were no longer walking with the living were lit up with a deathly white hue. This helped during the beginning scenes, when it was still unclear what exactly was happening in the play. It was compelling, yet confusing shifting from the past to the present and back again. But as an audience member, once I figured out who was who, what was what, and when was when, it was easy to sit back and watch it unfold. Projections of years and added ambiance of townspeople and the very devilish character, The Shape, played by Jake La Botz, enriched the experience and really made it fact that this isn’t your mama’s cardboard and paint production.

Just like any ensemble musical, the cast list is pretty long. But there is one name that seems to standout, Justin Guarini, from American Idol fame. I have to say that I did not know it was him until I looked at the playbill, which I think is actually a good thing. The memories that accompany Guarini’s name in my mind are modeled after his Justin to Kelly days, and this part, as Drake McCandless, shows a whole new dimension of his talent.

For me, the scene stealer was La Botz’s The Shape. He fully embodied his character and was there to give his fellow cast mates a nudge in the most awful directions. The Shape is the devil on your shoulder telling you to do the things you shouldn’t, like jump off a cliff, or kill your your family members. It all sounds very dark, and at times it is, but La Botz provided many of the more comedic moments and his timing was perfect.

Like with most Stephen King stories, there is a message beneath all the suspense and fear. This holds true for “Ghost Brothers of Darkland County”. Telling you what that message is might ruin a few of the audible gasp moments you would experience as a member of the audience. The Alliance Theatre at the Woodruff (1280 Peachtree St. NE) is running “Ghost Brothers of Darkland County” to what I can only imagine as packed audiences till May 13. For tickets, visit www.alliancetheatre.org.