This Hallowe’en, Robert Lloyd Parry brings a seasonal shiver to New York City and England, as the Nunkie Theatre Company presents “Oh, Whistle…”, two ghost stories by MR James, performed by RM Lloyd Parry.
“Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad”—a tale of nocturnal horror on the Suffolk coast—is considered by many to be the author’s masterpiece. It is beautifully complemented here by “The Ash Tree,” a story of witchcraft and vengeance down the generations.
MR James (1862-1936) would write and perform new tales every Christmas, to entertain friends in his rooms in King’s College, Cambridge. “MR James dedicated his stories to ‘those who have at various times listened to them,'” said Parry, “and I try to evoke the tone and atmosphere of James’ original performances. Reticence and suggestion are very important weapons in James’ storytelling armory, so the staging, the lighting, and the delivery is all very straightforward—and, one hopes, all the more chilling for that.”
Parry is an actor and art historian. He first read James’ ghost stories as a teenager and his passion for them was rekindled when he began working at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, where James was Director in the early 1900s. Since performing two of his favorite works in James’ old office in the Fitzwilliam in 2006, he has pursued this enthusiasm around the UK, USA, and Ireland, often performing in venues closely associated with the author.
This performance is the sequel to Parry’s critically acclaimed one-man show “A Pleasing Terror,” which toured in 2006 and 2007. It has been shortlisted for The Dracula Society’s prestigious Hamilton Deane Award.
“Oh, Whistle&#8230:” will be in New York City at the 78th Street Theater Lab (236 West 78th St, New York, NY 10024; 212-362-0329) from 22 October to 8 November. Performances will be at 7:30PM Wednesdays to Saturdays, with late shows at 10PM on 24 and 31 October and 7 November. UK performances begin on 14 November at the Stafford Gatehouse, and continue touring through 6 December. Following that, Parry will be in London from 9 December to 4 January 2009 at the Barons’ Court Theatre (The Curtain’s Up Pub, 28a Comeragh Road, West Kensington W14 9HP; 020-8932-4747) where performances are at 8PM. The full schedule is available on this page.