TOM VS. THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE: STAGE PRODUCTION

WRITTEN BY F. ANDREW LESLEY (Based on the novel by Shirley Jackson)

Four strangers enter a notoriously sinister mansion to probe its supernatural secrets—only to find that Hill House is very much awake, and it’s looking for someone to stay. Forever.

“No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality…”

Step across the threshold of literature’s most notorious mansion! The CNY Arts Center proudly presents F. Andrew Leslie’s terrifying stage adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s chilling classic, The Haunting of Hill House.  Directed by Gina Mazzoli.

Are you ready to discover what walks in the dark?

Community Theater troupes are the lifeblood of any community. Nothing gets me to go see a stage production faster than a horror or horror-adjacent themed play. Most of them, around spooky season, tend to lean into the creepy. Earlier in the year, the CNY Arts Center in Oswego county put on CARRIE: THE MUSICAL, it was a fantastic production and you can read my review of it here. Now they’ve outdone themselves with THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE. The play, based on Shirley Jackson’s classic haunted house novel, had its share of spooks, special effects, and scares, as well as a talented ensemble cast.

The Thursday night premiere performance starred: Hannah Avila (her stage debut) as Nel/Eleanor, Sarah Bradstreet as Mrs. Montaque, Michael Richard King as Dr. Montaque, Gina Milano as Theodora, Kevin Colvin as Luke, Tom Weber as Arthur, and Kimberly Vogt as Mrs. Dudley.  The ghosts and spirits included Tarin Campanella, Hannah Avila, Victoria Armet, Drian Doolittle Jr., Richard Heim, Ashley McKinstry, Paola I. Mendoza, and Parker Jane Nesbitt (who’s horrifying laugh was a highlight of the night!).

The stage set up was intricate and filled with furniture. As they did with CARRIE, the troupe took advantage of all their space, including the upper levels of the stage area. The special effects were far more than loud banging, smoke machines, and lighting. The use of audio effects was effective, but I would have liked for there to be more of a score added during times of tension. The on-stage special effects more than made up for this, including a scene with a stretching door that wowed the audience.

Director Gina Mazzoli introduced the show, and worked hard behind the scenes during the production. You could see the pride she has for the cast and staff for this, as she could barely contain her own enthusiasm for it while reading a wonderful poem written by lead actress Hannah Avila. Her words captured the essence of Jackson’s novel perfectly.

And it was Ms. Avila’s debut performance as Nel/Eleanor that stood out the most to me. Her line delivery punched, and she was radiant, using her experience as a figure skater to dance across the stage and keep eyes on her. And let me tell you this, if the worst thing that can happen during your debut performance is a run in the knee of your stocking, well, you are blessed and have a future in the arts. And that tear? To me at least, it lent to her performance, giving Eleanor a down-to-earth aesthetic the audience could find a kinship with. Which made the eventual reveals and her descent into the house’s madness gripping to behold. I could see her portraying the tragic character of Nikki in any potential stage adaptations of this year’s smash horror hit OBSESSION (wink-wink, nudge-nudge, CNY Arts Center).

If Ms. Avila’s Nel touched our hearts, then  Kimberly Vogt’s Mrs. Dudley stole the stage whenever she made a jump-scare appearance as the house’s housekeeper. Her quirky mannerisms and dialogue help set up the early narrative conflict, driving the story through its exposition phase in the first act. She doesn’t help… people. And leaves before dark, and you won’t forget it because she’ll remind you with dry comedy any stodgy English butler would be proud of.

The rest of the cast was as stellar, and they played off one another well with good chemistry. Gina Milano stood out and commanded these stage whenever she fell into a flamboyant monologue. Her wardrobe changes were wonderful, including a wonderful homage to Daphne of Scooby Doo fame in the third act. Local stage veteran Michael Richard King was perfectly cast as Dr. Montaque, and the comedy relief of his wife (Sarah Bradstreet in a giant blonde, bouffant wig that reminded of my mom’s hair 50 years ago) and her man servant, Arthur (Tom Weber) as well as Kevin Collins’ Luke, balanced the scares. The cast will change this weekend, with some of Thursday’s actors taking other roles.

I can’t wait to see more horror from the CNY Arts Center, they’re 2 for 2 with me in 2026. Tickets are still available through this link here!