"The Shining: Live": Theater Review

Catching a show at the Dark Room is a crapshoot. The theater feels like something that might be in a trailer park or the back of a bowling alley, complete with cheap chairs and a stage that's no bigger than a walk-in closet. The company has been quite successful in translating horror and sci-fi movies to the stage. It did a fun The Blob, and a fantastic Star Wars. The latest, an adaptation of The Shining, isn't as strong. Director Jim Fourniadis does a good job capturing all the iconic scenes, including the spooky twins in Room 237, Jack hacking through the door with the ax, the hedge maze chase, and, most inspired, little Danny's talking finger (6 feet tall and walking around in this version). The best moments come from Bryce Byerly, channeling a hilarious and scandalized Stephen King, commenting on the production from the side of the stage. But owing to too many one-noted performances and the serious source material, much of the comedy falls flat. If this were a 10-minute sketch, it'd be great, but at 75 minutes it isn't.