Broadway’s ‘Paranormal Activity’: A New Kind of Theater Thrill

Dark movie theaters, or perhaps spooky home basements, are traditional haunts for fans of supernatural thrills. However, “Paranormal Activity,” which recently opened at the August Wilson Theatre, challenges the notion that Broadway can’t offer genuine scares. Amidst 1,200 other captivated audience members, the experience epitomizes fear with dark ambiance and intense sound effects that seem to lift you out of your seat.

Felix Barrett, from the British company Punchdrunk, directs this production and brings expertise to the franchise’s unique feature: creating terror through intimate, domestic settings. The script by Levi Holloway is crafted with precision, focusing on both grand scares and subtle, emotional moments where characters reveal their vulnerabilities.

This Broadway horror does not deliver an overwhelming spectacle akin to “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” Instead, the setting—a house in England—and the interactions between a couple, portrayed by Cher Álvarez and Travis A. Knight, anchor the show. Recently relocated from Chicago, their relationship faces challenges from the husband’s fundamentalist mother, played by Shannon Cochran.

The two-story set, designed by Fly Davis, unfolds slowly, aided by Anna Watson’s lighting. When the medium, Eva Kaminsky, arrives, chaos ensues; doors and windows open mysteriously, figures appear, and new plot trajectories emerge. Viewers grow empathetic towards the young wife, whose personal demons are gradually unveiled.

The climax of Holloway’s script turns the narrative around, confounding audience expectations in a logical yet surprising manner. Cher Álvarez stars, bringing depth to her performance at the August Wilson Theatre.

“Paranormal Activity” avoids the self-aware clichés of worn-out horror series. Its analog storytelling, absent of digital gimmicks, roots itself in psychological realism, delivering real nightmares.

Initially performed at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, this show retains its Chicago-based cast and production. Despite slightly intrusive exit signs on Broadway, the eerie atmosphere remains potent.

Overall, “Paranormal Activity” is a plot-driven, immersive experience, shunning pretentious art for genuine thrills. The show’s execution is superb, engaging audiences deeply.