Olney's ghoulish gal terrified us all

From left, Lolita Marie, Tommy Bo, and Eymard Cabling in The Brothers Paranormal at Olney Theatre Center/Christopler Mueller, photo

At the Olney Theatre Center during the second act, I was so taken by the story I never lifted my pen to take a note.

The Brothers Paranormal is a Halloween story for the thinker, with a thickening plot, twists and turns that I dare say there is nobody who can accurately predict the outcome. (I deplore predictability. Surprise me every time, please.) 

It begins sweetly enough as Max (Tommy Bo) describes his and his brother's new business of ghost busting to a first customer, Delia (Lolita Marie). To help with family finances, Max and Visarut (Eymard Cabling) have a few tricks to get rid of the weird.

Delia explains why her house needs "cleansing"; crazy things are going on. 

Really?

Is she, or isn’t she, off her rocker?  Maybe, some dementia?  

But, who's to turn down a customer and perhaps reject mental health issues when income is the goal? 

In humorous dialogue, the brothers accept the assignment and away they fly to Delia's house, to scout it out, and meet her husband, Felix (DeJeanette Horne), a loving man who, with Delia, come to steal the show with their acting, palpable chemistry, and dances of mayhem (?).

Every so often the brothers' mother, Tasanee (Cindy Chang) makes an appearance to scold her youngest (Max) for not taking better care of his brother.  Only in the second act does Mom become a little too preachy in a monologue (and for me, in the center of the audience, difficult to hear since she was not directly turned center).

Make up artist (?) weaves an incredible design of hair, makeup and gown for the supernatural Jai (Justine "Icy" Moral) that (or whom) you won't soon forget. 

Olney first time directors, Hallie Gordon and Aria Velz, polish performances with emotion and strength to make audience members writh and feel (temporary) pain. But, hope?  

This is not a happy Halloween show filled with funny characters and whimsy but it carries themes (some, ever so slightly) of love, loss, suicide, addiction, grief, but not enough to create confusion and wonder of "what's going on?"

  

The set includes two parlors, a kitchen and a hospital room, all effectively laid out and designed by Misha Kachman with sudden sounds (expertly crafted by Sarah O'Halloran) to leave you a little jumpy. 

Jim Steinmeyer is illusions consultant; Robert Ramirez, illusions instructor; Minjoo Kim, lighting designer; Jeanette Christensen, costumes; and Ben Walsh, production stage manager. 

Jason Loewith, Olney's artistic director, writes in program notes that the theatre is proud to present its first by a Thai-American playwright, Prince Gomolvilas, with the regional debut of Brothers, close to a masterpiece and, no doubt, to be found on other nearby stages in the future.  

Special events:

Brothers and Sisters Paranormal Trivia Night, Thursday, October 19, 6:30-7:30 PM, Actors Hall, $5.

Ghost Stories with Weldon

Sunday, October 29, 430 to 5:30 PM, 1938 Original Theater, free with RSVP. Weldon Brown is the director of sales who’s been at Olney for 30 years and has scary stories to tell. Come dressed for Halloween! 

What: The Brothers Paranormal

When:  Now through Oct. 29, 2023, Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday matinees at 1:30 p.m. 

Where: Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab at Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD 20832.

Tickets: Start at $50 with discounts for seniors, students, military, and groups. 

Ages: PG-13 and above for intensity and some adult language  

Masks: None required.

Refreshments available which may not be taken to seats.

Parking: Free, lighted and plentiful on-site

Duration:  About two hours with one intermission

Printed programs? You may print your own or buy one for $2 at the theatre.

For more information: 301-924-3400 for the box office or 301-924-4485  

patricialesli@gmail.com