The Samaritan Syndrome Review
The Samaritan Syndrome at Gorilla Tango Theatre
By: Jeremy Menekseoglu
Director: Paul Cosca
Cast
Anthony Stamilio…….Mr. Suit
April Taylor……….Night Nurse
Brooke Elbrecht…………Saint
Claire Kander………………Ada
Nathan Randall……..Charming
Sarah Grant……………..Grace
Whitney LaMora………Pepper
Synopsis
Deep inside the women’s ward of an insane asylum, the doors open to a select group of clientele. Men who wish to save these girls are free to act upon their most secret desires. But one girl is different. And one man will risk his sanity and even his life to find the girl that haunts his dreams.
Reviewed by Brian Meadowcroft
As you first enter the theatre you see the women of the insane asylum sitting in their rooms doing various things such slicing up faces in a magazine. The stage is small but intimate and the brick walls help create an eerie tone. The set is dimly lit and minimal but does a perfect job of conveying the mood of the play. This asylum is a place where you learn that not all people can be saved and that it is sometimes hard not to take advantage of the weak.
The lead character Mr. Suit has come to the asylum in a desperate search for a particular woman. He is met by the drunken night nurse who informs him in order to gain access to the girl’s room he must pay first. What Mr. Suit and the other Johns do in the rooms are up to them. The tales of rape, abuse and molestation are uncovered as the rooms of the asylum are explored. This 45-minute grim story will keep you uneasy and interested as you find out why Mr. Suit is looking for the woman.
The actors were convincing and there were a couple particularly strong performances by Nathan Randall as “Charming” and Claire Kander as “Ada”. If you enjoy dark tales, such as me, this play is definitely worth seeing. There is a 15-minute talkback with the entire cast and crew after the show. I would recommend you take this opportunity to ask about how the characters and situations pertain to real life. The story behind the story is just as intriguing.
Reviewed by Kristin Carroll
The Samaritan Syndrome, although not strictly billable as horror from a traditional sense, is still a creepy and suspenseful theatrical production. It slowly unravels a gritty mystery, and much like the main character, makes viewers wish they weren’t so curious to open every available door to solve the puzzle. Content clings to the mind long after the show, its dark subject matter settling in uncomfortably.
The intimate set is simple, with a cot, white-sheeted backdrop, and small table with two chairs. The audience is introduced to a desperate young man who anonymously introduces himself as “Mr. Suit,” to the night nurse at a mental hospital. Mr. Suit explains he is frantically searching for a young girl around 25 with dark hair, although he does not know her name. Only that he must “find her and save her.” How he knows this girl, is the suspenseful question the audience tries to answer. The indifferent nurse tells the man he can search any patient room in the hospital, with but an easy swipe of his credit card. It then becomes clear the location is a perverted blending of psych ward and bordello.
And here begins the horrific journey of Mr. Suit. Each patient door he opens, exposes him to another emotionally disturbed female. Having been physically, sexually and/or mentally abused, these women are now locked away, tortured by demons within their own minds. They beg Mr. Suit to save them in various ways, and each time he guiltily walks away, jaded a little more upon each room he exits. After all, he is on a mission to find the one mystery girl he feels he can truly save.
After the last act, audience members are invited to a brief Q&A session with the cast and crew. It is then director Paul Cosca confirms the story is based on reality, as a somewhat autobiographical account of author Jeremy Menekseoglu. This is perhaps the most disturbing piece of information of all. With its gripping and mysterious story line, theater goers will find the tale unsettling in a thought provoking way. It is not meant to dictate opinions or feelings, but rather, encourage audience members to sift through their own emotions and pontificate on what they have just witnessed.
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Project Pitchfork & Ayria
Fun music for horror fans: Project Pitchfork and Ayria hit the stage in Chicago on June 19, 2010. Plus DJ Sprite and vendors. 9PM doors; $17 adv, $20 dos; 21+. Tickets: www.demonsanddarlings.com
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Stay Overnight at haunted Morse Mill Hotel with Chicago paranormal author Ursula Bielski and Spirit Feeler, Chicago Psychic, Edward Shanahan
Once a year Chicago Paranormal Author, Ms. Ursula Bielski and Chicago Psychic Spirit Feeler, Edward Shanahan, provide a paranormal overnight haunted location to explore and experience for those brave enough to spend the night.
June 26th they will spend a paranormal night with those interested in the experience, at the documented to be haunted, The Morse Mill Hotel. It will also be a full moon night.
For a history of the location, the past paranormal experiences and details about participating in this paranormal night
visit the web page: Beyond the Veil.
For details of Chicago Area Paranormal Nights to explore and experience haunted historic locations,
visit: Paranormal Nights at Haunted Historic Locations.
ENTER MYRON’S TERRIFYING TOP HAT CONTEST & YOU COULD WIN “I SELL THE DEAD” ON DVD! ENDS MAY 28!
From Dr. Caligari to Dr. Jekyll to Jack the Ripper, the top hat has frequently been part of the wardrobe of some of the classiest dark souls portrayed on the screen. In honor of our resident ghoul Myron Morbidio, this month Shadows & Screams has a top-hatted terror quiz! Just go to www.shadowsandscreams.com to enter and for the chance to win a DVD of I Sell the Dead, one of the best horror comedies of recent years!
Hurry! Entry deadline is May 28!
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“Feast Your Eyes” Mixed Media Exhibit at Horrorbles “Galerie des Terrors”
Reed Rische is a local mixed media artist making his Berwyn debut at Horrorbles Gallery on May 15th but has previously shown in Chicago, Oak Park, and New Mexico.
Starting with a focus on comic book art as a child, Reed has worked in many mediums including ceramics, drawing, painting, airbrush, spray paint, ink, marker, found objects, and combinations thereof. Still the unmistakable comic book style shines through, along with elements of sci-fi, horror, surrealism, pop-art, and urban art. Many have described his work as post-apocalyptic, but it is truly an eclectic demonstration in color, dimension, light, and story-telling through design.
Also to be unveiled, the ‘Radioactive Glow Modules’ , an eerily emenating display of darkness and light.
Reed’s work will be accompanied by paintings by Terry Rashbrook, and Judith Brown; photography by Alyssa Stone; and wearable art by Elizabeth Lopardo. The reception will be take place 7pm to 11pm. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served.
There is a $5 suggested but not required donation at the door.
Horrorbles
6729 w. Roosevelt Rd.
Berwyn, Il. 60402
708-484-7370
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