Cut off from the outside world by its remote location and shunned by all who know its forbidding and sinister reputation, Hill House has remained empty and silent except for the daily visits of its grumbling caretaker, Mrs. Dudley.
Its isolation is broken by the arrival of Dr. Montague, an investigator of supernatural phenomena who has been granted a short lease by the present owner. His mission is to delve into the morbid history of the house and to come to grips with the occult forces that have made it uninhabitable for many years.
He is joined by three others, all having their particular reasons for accepting Dr. Montague’s invitation to share his Hill House. Their visit begins in informality, but their sensibilities are soon jolted by strange and eerie occurrences. As they struggle to disguise their mounting fears they are joined by Dr. Montague’s wife and a friend, who have come to Hill House for purposes of their own.
The play leaves the audience wondering, is the house haunted?
Or are the people the haunted ones?
On Monday Aug. 26 the cast and crew started the read through of the script to get a feel of what’s to come.
Sophomore Elle Sinio, serving the production as an Assistant Stage Manager, was reading along as the cast spoke, and was thrilled to hear the words come to life.
“Hearing everyone read the script out loud for the first time made me appreciate how talented and creative everyone in the room was,” she said. “I’m just really excited to work with this group of people for another year and cannot wait to see where this production takes us!”
The following Wednesday was used to finish the script.
Senior Emily Chavez, who will be on house crew for this show, explained the ending was more frightening then she was expecting.
“The ending of the script really shocked me,” she said. “ It scared me and gave me chills but I think that shows the power of the story.”
That Thursday the cast got the show on its feet and finally started blocking the first scenes.
Senior Sophia Hillestead plays one of the many people haunting Hill House.
“(The ensemble is) more of a metaphysical thing in the story, so it’s been interesting to figure out how to convey that as an actor,” they said. “I’m excited to build on this, especially as we start staging more!”
With the play just beginning, the excitement is fresh in the air for everyone involved.
With many more weeks to come in this process, make sure to stay tuned weekly to this exclusive insight!
The Haunting of Hill House will run from Oct. 24-27.
Tickets will be available online as well as from any of the cast and crew in late September.