Thriller ‘Hill House’ haunts PA Playhouse

Sets don’t often play the main character, but in Port Angeles Community Players’ latest show “The Haunting of Hill House,” the brooding house takes center stage as a key plot point.

Kathleen Balducci directs the play by F. Andrew Leslie and based on the novel by Shirley Jackson, which is a “solid ghost story with a dark twist,” Balducci says.

The play opens in the Port Angeles Community Playhouse, 2235 E. Lauridsen Blvd., at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, and continues Feb. 25 and 28, March 3-4, 7, 10-11 with 2 p.m. matinees on Feb. 26, March 5 and 12.

“Haunting” follows visitors who come to Hill House to probe its secrets to draw out its alleged mysterious powers.

Community Players first produced the play in 1998 but chose to revive it because “sometimes it’s fun to be safely scared,” Balducci said.

She directed the 1998 production and said it’s her favorite ghost story and that today’s special effects, lighting and sound are more sophisticated and add more to the story.

Adding to the ambiance, thanks to a recent donation, is new lighting in the playhouse.

“We’ve been very limited in what we could do with equipment that was installed when the building was built — in 1971, said Mark Lorentzen, light and sound technician. “I think our audiences will be pleasantly surprised and delighted.”

“Haunting on Hill House” features Sharah Truett as Eleanor Vance, Cherie Trebon as Mrs. Dudley, Danielle Lorentzen as Theadora, George Wood as Dr. Montague, Mark Lorentzen as Luke Sanderson, Lynne Murphy as Mrs. Montague and John Slevin as Arthur Parker.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for students and not suitable for younger children. Tuesday performances, Feb. 28 and March 7 cost $15 for reserved seats or $8 for festival seating at the door.

A new ticket system online at www.pacommunityplayers.com allows visitors to choose a seat and print tickets at home with a small handling fee. Ticket-goers also can show purchased tickets from a cellphone, too, said Playhouse board president Janet Lucas.

Stage Right Vintage, 106 N. Laurel St., Port Angeles, also offers advanced tickets now too. Hearing devices also are available at each show.

For more information, call 452-6651.

The surroundings come to life in Port Angeles Community Players’ “The Haunting of Hill House” from Feb. 24-March 11. It stars Danielle Lorentzen as Theadora and Sharah Truett as Eleanor Vance with new special effects. Photo by Kate Carter

The surroundings come to life in Port Angeles Community Players’ “The Haunting of Hill House” from Feb. 24-March 11. It stars Danielle Lorentzen as Theadora and Sharah Truett as Eleanor Vance with new special effects. Photo by Kate Carter