schedule
Tim Uren
The Curse of Yig
Fri., Jul. 31 @ 10:00 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 1 @ 2:30 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 2 @ 8:30 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 7 @ 10:00 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 8 @ 7:00 p.m.
Warning! Loud noises/gunshots
Venue Mixed Blood Theatre
For ages 10+
Written by Zealia Bishop & H.P. Lovecraft
Web site www.10000comicbooks.com
genres Drama, Sci-fi/mystery
Overall rating
User reviews
Snakebitten!
by Cody Stewart Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
8-8-09 @ 7 pm
Mixed Blood Theater
Felt more like a book on tape than a theatrical presentation, but Lovecraft and Bishop's story still frightened me. You don't see many horror or suspense shows in the fringe so this was something delightfully different, however pedantic. 3 out of 5.
Strong Performances, But...
by Sid Solomon Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
Kudos to Amy Schweikhardt and Tim Uren for crafting a very specific, very tense, and at time very scary evening of theater using only their skilled storytelling and the audiences imagination. I only wish that I had the form of the play, which calls for the two characters to only address the audience, never each other, even when in the same scene, more engaging or appealing. It felt a waste of two gifted actors to keep them from playing with each other.
eerie and absorbing
by vickijoan keck Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
This show kept me entertained an interested, even at 10 pm after seeing 3 shows and performing in one, which is no small feat! I love a good spooky story and this one really worked for me - great sound and lighting helped set the mood. good job!
delightfully creepy
by Karen Pollard Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
This play wove a spell using the language of Lovecraft. All elements worked together to draw me in and give me shivers and chills. Will certainly recommend.
I'm sorry
by Edwin Strout Follow this reviewer
Rating 1 kitty
I won't go into specifics, I really don't want to be mean, as these are very talented people. SHOW DON'T TELL. This is theater and that was the first thing that I was taught, and it took awhile to sink in, but SHOW DON'T TELL. Again, sorry.
the horror!
by David McKay Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Do you like scary movies? This classic Lovecraft tale is breathed new life by these talented performers. Do yourself a favor and experience a timeless classic that also happens to be one of the best shows at fringe. Be warned, you may have nightmares.
Great Storytelling
by Matt Rein Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
A creepy story wonderfully told by Amy Schweickhardt and Tim Uren. The two found a balance between telling the story and portraying the characters that highlighted the rich text while keeping the audience engaged. This is some great storytelling.
Terrifyingly effective
by Sharon Kahn Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
HP Lovecraft is best when read aloud. There is something about his hypnotic cadence and plummy verbosity that needs to be heard with the ear to work its awful magic. But this performance is much more than a simple reading (like last year's "Rats in the Walls.") At the start of the show it is essentially two narrators taking turns reading the introductory exposition, but after a while Tim and Amy slip into the characters of Walker and Audrey Davis and lead the audience into the ultimate "there's something under the bed" nightmare. Beautifully done, despite the occasional slips of the tongue.
Riveting material expertly presented
by Pat Lindgren Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Tim Uren is always excellent and he did not let us down. New-comer Amy Schweickhardt met and matched him, giving an excellent performance. I would definitely recommend this to a friend.
A Den of Vipers
by Reid Gagle Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
Tim Uren again relates a vintage H. P. Lovecraft story, this time assisted by Amy Schweickhardt. Both performers have track records performing old time horror stories, so pairing them here was inspired casting. They create an appropriately creepy atmosphere, aided by a simple by effective set. Unfortunately, it is far too easy to see where the story is going, which undercuts the impact. Nevertheless, a fun show.
fun and spooky
by Dan Pinkerton Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
This was another piece of H. P. Lovecraft horror, and I actually liked it a little better than RATS IN THE WALL for two reasons. First, I liked the fact that the Gothic horror took place in a distinctly non-Gothic setting --- no spooky castle, but the Oklahoma plains around the turn of the last century. Second, although Tim Uren is very talented and always watchable, it was nice to have Amy as a second actor. It gave the show a little variety and meant that parts of it could be dramatized and not just told.
Its only flaw is that Amy rushes the opening narration. I don't know why --- Fear of forgetting the lines? A desire to get past the exposition and into the story? The Curse of Yig? --- but the opening should be given a little more time and nuance, because it's what is supposed to draw us into the story. And if she took an extra two minutes, the show would still finish with 13 minutes to spare.
Otherwise, a strong show that ought to be on your list.
And the whole theatre jumps...
by Sarah Cura Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
I knew the show would be good because Tim Uren is involved. He is just a master of his craft. It took a bit for me to get used to the narrative style of this piece, but it was clear early on that it was the best way to present the story. Then I became mesmarized... Time was gone. I forgot I was in a theatre with other people. We were all engrossed, and we all jumped together - TWICE. Oooh it was fun. I hope I don't have snake dreams tonight...
Thunderstorm helped set the mood
by Sarah Holmberg Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
I think it would be just as effective on a bright and sunny day, but on a dark and stormy night, the mood was rather perfect.
I rather enjoyed the documentary feel of the opening of the show, and my one complaint would be that at times it felt like the performers were speeding through the material. An extra breath or two could help. Overall, though, I thought both performances were brilliant, and particularly enjoyed listening to Amy.
Of course, I have a new snake phobia to deal with, so that's not so great...
Slowburn
by Joshua Humphrey Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
I saw 'Jurassic Dork' before 'The Curse of Yig', and it was like taking a jump off a cliff. They were two very different shows, and it was difficult to go from one to another.
As other reviewers have said, those first 5-10 minutes are the hardest as you adjust to the very different performance sensibilities presented, but from then on you're absorbed and the play builds with tense moment after tense moment.
Bone-chilling...
by Justin Alexander Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
The Curse of Yig gets off to a slow start, with the production choosing to keep its performers perhaps a little too distant from the literary material. For perhaps 10-15 minutes, the result feels too much like a book-on-tape being performed on the stage.
But then the production loosens up, and as Schweickhardt and Uren ease into their mutual panoply of characters the tension ratchets up at an alarming pace.
And then Schweickhardt gets into the "plain bed of pine" and delivers a bone-chilling performance that left the audience completely riveted in their seats and utterly defenseless to withstand the gut-wrenching and horrific conclusion.
The result is a deeply memorable evening of theater. I recommend it highly.
Tim Uren is the best part of the show
by Devin Nordson Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
A nicely creepy story was limited in its impact by the difficulties Amy had delivering the thick narration.
Tim Uren was excellent as expected.
Snakes On A Stage!
by Ben Thietje Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Tim Uren is awesome. Amy Schweickhardt is also awesome. Snakes, however, are not cool with me at all. Ish.
You'll Fall Under the Spell
by Guy Bock Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Suspension of disbelief is not an easy thing to achieve. Too often a story puts far more demand on the audience's imagination than the author's or performers'. That isn't the case with 'The Curse of Yig'. Both story and storytellers really draw you in--and without relying on any of the standard tropes of the traditional ghost story or urban legend.
Spooky
by Kristi Lawless Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
It started slow, but I realized they needed to do this to set the stage. Once things ramped up, I was on the edge of my seat.
Chilling indeed
by Brian Watson-Jones Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
I'm a sucker for Lovecraft, and while Yig isn't the pure stuff, it's close enough to get uncomfortable. It's told beautifully here. It drags a bit at the beginning; with that kind of exposition, it's hard to do anything but stand stock-still or walk in lazy pointless circles. But once we got into the tale of the settlers and their experiences, the hooks were in. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon, but every fright jerked the audience in their seats, and by the time we reached the denouement the vivid tale had seeped all the way through us. Props to Schweickhardt for painting such a picture on a nearly empty stage, and as always to Uren for the slow unraveling of rational certainty that his characters go through as the tale creeps along.
A tale well told
by Hazen Markoe Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Tim Uren again brings the work of H.P. Lovecraft to the Fringe with this dark and creepy tale of a frontier family cursed by an ancient snake-god. With the able help of Amy Schweickhardt, the duo craft an engrossing and dark story despite the occasional opening night flub during a couple of the longer monologues in the piece. Uren does a wonderful job switching characters, while Scheickhardt displays a strong sense of storytelling. In a rather odd coincidence, the thunderstorm outside last night helped serve to enhance the show's overall mood. If you love Lovecraft, or are fond of scary tales in general, this is definitely the show for you.
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