Haunting histrionics

Sullivan West’s drama evokes chills with staging of eerie plays and selected shorts

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — Ghosts, vampires, witches, specters, creeps and a headless horseman traversed the stage at Sullivan West on November 7 and 8 as the drama club, directed by Russell Johansen, Nick Iacovetti and student Hannah Rettoun, staged “The Haunted Auditorium.” It starred Grace O’Connor as Joyce, the new drama teacher who is soon terrified by custodian Mr. Karn—creepily enacted by Samuel Satanovsky—with his tales about the death of a former student actor and the subsequent haunting of the facility.

Michael Sandler as the comforting Joe Gray, Olivia Grady as Nancy and Kayal Figueroa as Dr. Gentry rounded out the cast of the creepy prelim to Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

The novel, which was dramatized by Kathryn Schultz Miller, was transformed into an admirable production that featured great period costumes designed by art teacher Barbara Allees, fine sets by Greg Bryan, who came on board late to take on the daunting role of Ichabod Crane, and the eerie lighting for Crane’s encounters with specters and the headless horseman provided by Nadine Ramdhany.

Crane’s role as the village’s new schoolteacher brings him in contact with obstreperous students, town tavern dwellers and ultimately with Brom, played by Richard Smith, who becomes his jealous rival for the affections of Katrina, played charmingly by Sommer Johansen.

Supporting roles were Brandon Creegan as Washington E. Vantassel, Amada Berge as Emily, Kaylan Cemelli, Sandler as Peter and Briana Castro as Judith. Satanovsky played the horseman.

Three selected short vignettes provided interludes to the two longer works. Pat Cook and Amber Conklin performed in Cook’s “Hate Halloween.” Alicia Baldwin and April Drake played in “Out For Blood” and Kayla Figuera, Drake Baldwin and Emily Kramer delighted in “A Very Sweet Treat.”

Click here for an album of pictures. To purchase a CD of more than 100 shots from the plays send a check for $25 dollars payable to The River Reporter, ATTN: Richard Ross, P.O. Box 150, Narrowsburg, NY 12764.