A Haunted House, performed by mime David Hoskin, is a genre-bending experience that blends comedy, horror, and mime. The physical setting is thematically appropriate; the moment that the audience steps into the small, damp room, they are immediately invited and prepared to take part.
With his masterful use of prop play, David sets the scene. All it takes is a toy car, powder, and hairspray dancing around a miniature haunted house for the audience to understand where they are, and what role they’ll play for the next sixty minutes. Members of the public are not merely spectators; they are active participants going on an interactive tour of a house haunted by more than just vengeful spirits. This house is riddled with memories of past regrets and plagued with grief for a future that does not exist, making it ever more relatable to anyone who has ever pondered what could have and would have happened, but never did.
David himself goes on to play several roles throughout the show, including vampires, zombies, the spirits of dead relatives, and birds on the bloody quest for human eyes. All these parts simultaneously have no rationale yet make perfect sense. The writing and text is clever, striking the right balance between surreal and unimagined. Even in the midst of controlled chaos, David manages to sprinkle in bits of political and social commentary, with references to “the council,” gently reminding us of the actual horrors that exist in the real world. His timing is impressive, his comedic chops are sharp, and he repeatedly breaks the fourth wall, bringing the audience in on the joke and thus, adding to the immersive experience.
Even more impressive though, is David’s use of physicality and clown to create vivid characters and drive the plot and punchlines forward. His mime is precise and serves as proof that comedy is not limited to the spoken word; it lives in the body. There are endless possibilities for where comedy can go, and how it can resonate.
