The world of shadow puppets doesn’t HAVE to be shadowy, but the month-long Radiant Darkness series at Links Hall celebrates the dark side through murder ballads, folk songs, Victorian tabloid tales and other beautifully gruesome storytelling. Creating and accompanying the silhouettes on the wall are some of Chicago’s most ingenious puppeteers and musicians, among them veterans of Redmoon, the Incurable Theatre, Von Orthal Puppets and Michael Montenegro Puppets. The numerous short pieces reflect both Western and Japanese styles of puppetry in tales of romance, adventure and mystery—all of them with a lurid tinge. Radiant Darkness runs Fri.-Sun. through Jan. 29; Links Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield; (773) 281-0824; $10.