SEDATE SHIVERS
Gorey Stories, Blindfaith Productions. Through 11/1 at Angel Island. Phone (773) 250-7133. Eighteen humorously creepy fables by Edward Gorey–including The Wuggly Ump, The Gilded Bat and The Pious Infant–in a musical adaptation by Stephen Currens and David Aldrich.
Dracula: The Puppet Play, Red Hen Productions. Opens 10/31 through 12/31. Phone (773) 728-0599. The puppets of the Hystopolis troupe are lifelike enough to follow you home and peer in your windows–and this show has one who changes into a GIANT BAT!
The Scarecrow, North Lakeside Players. Through 11/10 at the North Lakeside Cultural Center. Phone (773) 293-1358. A witch seeking revenge on the puritan magistrate who Done Her Wrong frankensteins herself an android in Percy MacKaye’s 1911 hit.
Studies In Sherlock: A Case Of Identity and The Adventure of the Second Stain, St. Sebastian Players. Through 11/17 at St. Bonaventure. Phone (773) 404-7922. Two from the archives of English Lit’s foremost genius detective, one involving a missing fiancé and the other, a letter that could trigger a war, both adapted for the stage by Jim Masini.
Deathtrap, Stage Two Theatre Company. Through 10/31 in Lincolnshire. Phone (847) 432-7469. Some authors will just kill for a best-seller. Which of the two writers in Ira Levin’s battle-of-the-hacks will it be?
ADULT ANGST
Seventy Scenes Of Halloween, Broutil & Frothingham Productions. Through 11/2 at the Theater Building. Phone (773) 327-5252. The trick-or-treaters are out tonight, and Jeffrey Jones’ lovers are spending a quiet evening at home–but are hidden demons imperiling their relationship?
StoryTellers 2002: Twilight Zone Live, Tinfish Productions. Through 10/30. Phone (773) 549-1888. A band of mismatched individuals imprisoned in a single cell, a traveler stranded in a ruined monastery on a dark and stormy night, and a woman hiding from Death–it’s an evening of Rod Serling’s best, adapted for the stage:
SCREAM WITH LAUGHTER
Vampire Lesbians Of Sodom, Broutil & Frothingham Productions. Through 11/2 at the Theater Building. Phone (773) 327-5252. Alexandra Billings and Honey West suck fresh–um, blood in Charles Busch’s camp parody
The Devil Vet, The Mammals. Through 11/2 at the Theater Building. Phone (773) 327-5252. Is the simian in the cage a man or an animal? Why is the Doctor more enamored of puppy-dog tails than with sugar and spice? The Mammals resurrect their (literally) underground parody.
Tales From Mom’s Crypt 666: Mark Of The Tiffabeast, Corn Productions. Through 10/31 at the Cornservatory. Phone (312) 409-6435. Robert Bouwman and Todd Schaner are back in mother-daughter drag, battling an array of seasonal villains.
Renfield, WNEP Theater Foundation. Through 11/29. Phone (773) 755-1693. You remember Renfield–the arachnophagous accountant who agreed to a meeting at his client’s home. Now we hear HIS story, told by Jonathan Pitts and live (so they say) actors.
Evil Dead! The Musical, Rowhouse Theatre. Through 11/2. Phone (773) 989-4515. Low-budget spoof of Sam “Spiderman” Raimi’s low-budget bloodflick staged outdoors in a back yard just off Broadway. The evening may also include a surprise appearance by police come to investigate all the ruckus.
Attack Of The World Wide Weird, The Wrecking Crew. Through 10/26 at the Chase Café. Phone 250-3004. Improv-based sketch comedy based on items from the Chuck Shepard collection.
Terrorslide, Mr. Fancypants. Through 11/2 at the Playground. Phone (773) 871-3793. Midnight improv-comedy spoofing teen-killer movies.
Daylight Savings Time ends on October 27, making it even easier to–uh, dig yourself up a jolly good fright this Hallow’s Eve. Boo!