The season of fall has arrived. The skies are filled with clouds, the leaves have turned orange and brown and have  trickled down onto the ground. As the city  grows darker so does our theatre. The Barrens Theater Company kicks down the door to start the Halloween season with an interactive production where you play the jury for the trial of Elizabeth Bathory, one off the most famous vampires of all time. Bloody Bathory offers an alternative history where you will experience her side of the story.

Millie Rose’s Bloody Bathory is the story of 16th century Countess Eliza Bathory and her trial for murder. Through detailed accounts from various characters the audience is informed of Elizabeth’s past and the crimes they swear she did or did not commit. From there, the audience is in control of who and where they want to tell them the story. Millie Rose shows herself to have a talent for writing dialogue that seemed authentic despite the story’s expression of ghosts, demons, and witches. 

The production is located at the Epworth United Methodist Church which is an ideal setting for the dark story to unfold. The brownstone building sits in the shadows of Kenmore Ave with dark, wide doors that creak loudly when opened. The high ceiling, pale lighting, uneven walls with cracks running in every direction add into the eerie vibration felt throughout the play. The production absorbs the church’s interior and exterior. Inviting the city to involve itself with the characters and audience as they search for a dead body.

Millie Rose stars in her own play as Elizabeth Bathory and gives a decent performance in the role. The dozen actors that surround her give honest performances and do a fine job staying in character as they direct and interact with the audience. Each character provides a few pages worth of information that can be difficult to decipher and retain. The production, directed by Chicago based Molly H. Donahue, is designed in a way where the audience is forced to experience the “main” scenes, but those scenes fail at providing a clear picture of what exactly is going on. The “optional” scenes outside of the “main” scenes leave themselves vulnerable for an audience member to walk into and have no idea what’s going on, or why it’s happening, leading them to wonder why they should care. 

Bloody Bathory provides a fun alternative for families and couples to dive into for the Halloween season. The freedom it provides for the audience can suit everyone. The young can enjoy the thrill of running behind some characters while the older can walk in stride and nitpick which character they rather follow. The characters may be forgettable along with the plot, but Bloody Bathory will leave you with an unforgettable experience.

Through November 16, 2019 at Epworth United Methodist Church.