The Bone-Chilling, Spine-Tingling, Hair-Raising, Bloodcurdling Hallowe’en House of Horror
In which Y.P.R. scares the bejesus out of you.
Vampires, werewolves, mummies, monsters, zombies, witches, warlocks, ghosts, ghouls, goblins, gremlins, skeletons, demons, devils, headless horsemen, hunchbacks, devils, imps, sprites, sea creatures, ogres, trolls, grim reapers, gargoyles, jack-o’-lanterns, mutants, mad scientists, hunchbacks, poltergeists, wraiths, phantasms, hellhounds, incubi, succubi, black cats, bats, little green men, and things that go bump in the night.
Hallowe’en is a time that reconfirms the social bond of a neighborhood (particularly the bond between strangers of different generations) by a ritual act of trade. Children go to lengths to dress up and overcome their fear of strangers in exchange for candy. And adults buy the candy and overcome their distrust of strange children in exchange for the pleasure of seeing their wild outfits and vicariously reliving their own adventures as children.
The painfully introspective Angela Chase of TV’s “My So-Called Life” once mused, “When I was little I, like, worshipped Hallowe’en. And truthfully, part of me still does. ‘Cause it’s your one chance all year to be someone else.” Although the lack of self-esteem in that statement is somewhat charming, Y.P.R. is prepared to agree with the overriding sentiment: Hallowe’en is fun. Also, we love Claire Danes.
What any of those disconnected blurts have to do with the following collection is spooky and scary indeed. Enjoy.
Gotham: Four Very Short, Spooky Plays about Monsters at Large in the City
It’s the Great Pumpkin-Patch Farmer, Charlie Brown!
What Are We Giving Trick-or-Treaters at Our Doorstep?