Bizarre characters and spooky surprises highlight theatre group’s Afraid of the Dark production

A MYSTERY comedy set on an isolated honeymoon getaway in the 1950s is putting the spotlight on the lead performers in the latest Ballina Players Theatre production.

Tory Puglisi stars as Chauncey in Afraid of the Dark, returning after previous stage roles and work as assistant director on the group’s production of Chicago.

He is joined by Harriet Mackie, who is making her Ballina Players debut as Lillums, with Fran Legge directing the show.

“The two main actors are on stage almost the entire time, with only a few short breaks, and they’ve really rounded out their characters,” Legge said.

“The actors are on point with their lines; they’ve done an incredible job learning them.

“Everyone, including new members to our theatre, have been a delight to work with. Bringing new people in and watching them grow has been such a joy.”

The show centres on the lead characters’ fear of the dark after the lights go out in a stone mansion.

What follows is a parade of bizarre characters, spooky surprises and laugh out loud mishaps where nothing is quite what it seems.

It is based on a novel by James Reach, a prolific author in the 1940s and 1950s, though little is known about his inspiration for Afraid of the Dark.

“The story is quirky and fun. I had a friend come to see it last week before leaving overseas, and at the interval he said, ‘This is weird.’ And it is, but it’s a lot of fun,” Legge said.

“The cast has had so much enjoyment rehearsing it.”

“This play is a bit of a risk since it’s unknown, but bookings are going extremely well, which is very encouraging.”

The production features 17 actors, including Jaime Sheehan, who returns to the stage as Mrs Mayhew in her first acting role since The Little Mermaid in 2018.

Afraid of the Dark runs until March 29, with tickets available at ballinaplayers.com.au.