Horror play fails to horrify

Premier of much awaited horror play 'Let Me In' just did not click.

ISLAMABAD: Let Me In, a horror play staged at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) Auditorium on Sunday evening, was a new experience for the city’s audience as stage productions here have mostly been musicals and comedies. As an amateur effort the play was entertaining and Osman Khalid Butt, the director, deserves applause for bringing diversity to the local theatre.

The premier, however, could not live up to the publicity and hype that was created for it. Horror would be hard to bring forth in a live performance unless the script, set, actors and the technical side of the production are all in unison. Let Me In just did not click. It was evident that the cast had not had a full run through before opening night. The audience found it hard to focus on a particular scene as the movement in the background kept attention distracted. Projection was another problem.

Though seated very close to the stage this writer felt the actors were not loud enough to fill the auditorium. The set presenting the interior of a convenience store was elaborate and spacious for the actors’ movement but without the requisite lighting arrangement the intended spookiness could not be created.

The lighting equipment at the PNCA auditorium was also not supportive towards this end. The characters kept talking about the atmosphere being foggy outside but there was no fog to be seen - an effect that could easily be created through fog machines. Even though the chemistry between the cast was excellent, the characters were not fully developed and in most instances it was hard to believe that the actors had actually morphed into their respective characters.

One viewer, a close friend of the cast, could not help expressing his disappointment with the production. He thought the cast lacked experience in the horror genre and on the production side the necessary infrastructure was not available.

Osman Khalid Butt and his team have taken a very bold step nevertheless. Perfection cannot be attained in a day in a genre that is new for both the players and the audience. Osman Khalid Butt remains its pioneer. The show will improve as the initial glitches are recognized and rectified.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2010.