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A MIDSUMMER NIGHT SCREAM


  • The Greenhouse Theater Center 2257 N Lincoln Ave Chicago, IL 60614 United States (map)

Shakespeare, Slasher Horror & a Vengeful Pagan God? Yes, Please.

“The course of true love never did run smooth. Out here, it doesn’t get to run at all.”

If Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream had been written after a particularly nasty weekend binge of folk horror and slasher movies, you might end up with something like this.

Five college friends.

An isolated cabin in the Catskill Mountains.

Moonshine.

Buried secrets.

Blood on an ancient forest floor.

And, because apparently things weren't already going badly enough, a vengeful pagan deity trapped in the woods.

Welcome to your new favorite October theater nightmare.

When the Cabin in the Woods Meets Shakespeare

The setup sounds familiar: a group of friends heads into the wilderness for one last wild summer weekend.

We've seen this movie before.

We know how this goes.

There's the remote cabin. There's questionable decision-making. There's alcohol. There's probably at least one person who says something along the lines of, “What could possibly go wrong?”

And then everything goes wrong.

But this production puts a decidedly theatrical—and Shakespearean—spin on the familiar horror setup.

The result is described as equal parts bloody slasher and eerie folk terror, making it a particularly tasty combination for horror fans, Shakespeare geeks, and anyone who enjoys watching fictional people make increasingly terrible decisions in the woods.

Something Is Waiting in the Forest

The trouble begins when local moonshine helps unearth secrets that probably should have stayed buried.

Then violence spills blood onto the ancient forest floor.

And something awakens.

Because apparently the first rule of surviving a horror story is still completely ignored:

Don't disturb the ancient supernatural thing.

The friends find themselves facing a vengeful pagan deity that has been trapped in the brush—and it isn't exactly interested in letting everyone make it home for brunch.

What follows blends supernatural horror with the visceral energy of a slasher, creating a dark theatrical experience built for the Halloween season.

For Horror Fans AND Shakespeare Nerds

Here's where things get particularly interesting.

This isn't simply another slasher story.

And it isn't simply Shakespeare with a few spooky decorations.

It's a collision of genres.

If you love Shakespeare, there's something here to dig into.

If you love folk horror, there's something here for you.

If you're a slasher fan, there's definitely something here for you.

And if you enjoy all three?

Congratulations.

You have found your people.

The production takes the themes and romantic complications associated with Shakespeare and throws them into an environment where ancient supernatural forces, violence, grief, and deeply buried secrets are waiting in the trees.

Basically, it's Shakespeare—but someone turned off the lights.

The Woods Are Not Your Friend

There's something uniquely effective about folk horror.

Unlike a traditional monster that simply shows up and starts chasing people, folk horror often makes the environment itself feel wrong.

The forest isn't just scenery.

The traditions aren't just background.

The ancient stories aren't just stories.

And that little voice telling you that you probably shouldn't walk deeper into those woods?

Listen to that voice.

Nobody in horror ever listens to that voice.

An October Theater Fix for Horror Junkies

October is already the perfect month for horror.

But if your Halloween entertainment usually consists of movie marathons, haunted houses, and arguing with friends about which Scream is the best, why not throw some live theater into the mix?

There's something different about experiencing horror in a theater.

The performers are right there.

The audience is right there.

And you can't pause the show because you suddenly remembered you need to check whether the front door is locked.

You're in it.

That's what makes horror theater so much fun.

Mature Audiences Only

This is not a production for the little ghosts and goblins.

Content warnings include:

  • Strobe lighting

  • Theatrical haze

  • Stylized violence

  • Blood and gore

  • Internalized homophobia

  • Grief

Mature audiences are recommended.

So bring your horror-loving friends—but maybe leave the younger kids at home.

Ready to Head Into the Woods?

You already know better.

You've seen enough horror movies to understand that heading into an isolated cabin in the woods is rarely a good idea.

But fortunately, you aren't actually going into the woods.

You're going to the theater.

Much safer.

Probably.

Tickets are available through Otherworld Theatre, and the production features poster artwork by Ethan Robert.

So if your ideal October evening involves Shakespearean themes, slasher energy, folk horror, supernatural terror, and just enough bad decisions to keep the plot moving...

This is one trip into the woods you won't want to miss.

Just don't drink the moonshine.

And definitely don't wake the pagan deity.

 

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