Stage Fright

With Halloween just about upon us, it’s time for some serious scariness.

Henry James’ frightening short story, “The Turn of the Screw,” has been adapted into a satisfying stage play by Jeffrey Hatcher. The Santa Paula Theater Center has come up with an imaginative production directed by Taylor Kasch, starring Christine Zirbel and Jeff G. Rack.

It’s the story of a governess hired under somewhat mysterious circumstances to care for a London gentleman’s niece and nephew, who live in the English countryside, circa 1877.

What happens when she arrives at the remote mansion is downright spooky.

Kasch, of Ojai, has worked in Santa Paula before, directing the experimental “Calamity Jane,” the cast of which featured Rack in five roles. Here, the actor also plays multiple characters--in fact, all the male and female parts save that of the governess, which Zirbel has to herself.

It’s a stunt, of course, but makes sense in that all of Rack’s characters (and a few unseen) are at some kind of odds with the governess.

It helps, too, that both Zirbel and Rack are terrific actors, aided considerably by Rack’s set design, Dana Kilgore’s lights, and--of course--Kasch’s direction.

Kasch recently closed the doors on his Flying H Productions because audiences weren’t interested in the same kind of theater he was. “The Turn of the Screw” is somewhere between his big commercial successes, such as “Oliver!,” and the more obscure playwrights he seems to prefer. One hopes Kasch doesn’t consider any success “The Turn of the Screw” may deservedly enjoy as somehow demeaning.

Although tickets are available for children, chances are strong that the show’s psychological overtones may be a little too confusing to the quite young, the comfortable 75-minute running time notwithstanding.

DETAILS

“The Turn of the Screw” continues Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. through Nov. 7 at the Santa Paula Theater Center, 125 S. 7th St. Tickets are $15; $12 for seniors and students; $8 for children 12 and under. For reservations or more information, call 525-4645.

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Fall Renaissance Faire: The promoters of the Ojai Renaissance Faire, now in its ninth year, have split the event, which was formerly held over two consecutive summer weekends.

This year’s fair ran one weekend in April, with the second coming up Saturday and Sunday.

The shores of Lake Casitas are set to be turned into the likes of an 18th-century English village. Among the scheduled entertainers--along with dancers, musicians and street performers such as jugglers--are the Ojai-based Madrigali Renaissance Minstrels and two theatrical groups.

Bard in the Yard, a 12-year-old troupe based in Long Beach, will perform an original adaptation of Washington Irving’s classic ghost story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” (just before the Tim Burton-directed film opens), as well as an edited version of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” (no spooks; cross-dressing and laughs, though), and a program of Shakespeare readings.

Their 25-strong company includes another group of madrigal singers, “The Bard’s Consort.”

Simi Valley-based Xanadu Productions will perform at the fair for its fourth year, with a 90-minute program of scenes and monologues from Shakespeare’s works.

“We’re going to hit on as many plays as we can,” said Xanadu’s Toni Jourdan.

“I think it’s 12 in all. Some of the nine of us who will be performing have appeared in as many as 15 Shakespeare plays, and I just asked everybody what they’ve done that they’d like to do, and what they’ve never done that they’d like to.

“And of course, with Halloween on the way, we’ll be featuring the witches from ‘Macbeth.’ ”

DETAILS

The Ojai Renaissance Faire and Shakespeare Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Lake Casitas, off Highway 150 in Oak View. Madrigali Renaissance Minstrels will play from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., “Shakespeare Unplugged” will take place at 11 a.m., “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” at 1 p.m., “Twelfth Night” at 3 p.m. and “Shakespeare Vignettes and Songs” at 5:30 p.m., all on both days. Tickets are $8; under 12, $5; under 5, free. Pets are welcome and camping is available. For more information or for camping reservations, call 649-2233.

Todd Everett can be reached at [email protected].