Two sisters arrive at the amphitheater, the crowd cheering their names. As they prepare to summon a deceased loved one for an audience volunteer, everyone waits with bated breath. Sharp raps which sound eerily like footsteps can be heard across the room, sending shivers down spines and intriguing the minds of those present.
Lamar University’s department of theatre and dance presents “The Incredible Fox Sisters” through Oct. 29. Directed by Craig Johnson, the play tells the story of two sisters who summon the dead spirts walking amongst us — and create the foundations of the Spiritualism movement along the way.
Just in time for Halloween, the play mixes scares with laughs as the audience encounters a series of characters from a humorous Quaker couple to James Fenimore Cooper.
The oldest sister, Leah Fox (C.J. Jeffcoat) is the first to discover the gift her sisters Margaretta (Dominique Roman) and Kate (Julianna McManus) possess. As their mother grows ill and their father works to take care of them, Leah supports her younger sisters in their supernatural talent pushing them to expand past their hometown.
McManus’s Kate is shy and a rule follower. She does what people tell her to without question and doesn’t complain. Roman’s Margaretta (Maggie) is more uptight and stubborn. She doesn’t give in so easily and is considered the black sheep of the family as a result.
Jeffcoat’s Leah acts as a mother figure to her younger sisters and takes care of them as they tour the country. She is very uptight and while she cares deeply about both sisters, she also wants them to look their best and to uphold their reputations.
Both sisters to push their personal feelings aside in favor of those grieving and seeking closure. Resentment resides in them both, but Maggie and Kate handle it in different ways. Kate delves deeper into her talents and absorbs herself in the work, while Margaretta pushes away everything about it.
The play has many spooky elements, such as fog which spreads across the stage whenever spirits are summoned and sound effects which add to the immersive experience. But, hidden beneath its eerie exterior, there’s a lot of humor and heart.
All of the characters feel like real people who lived a long time ago. The ensemble characters also play a big role in establishing the world within the story and how the general public felt about the Fox Sisters when they were alive.
Director Johnson ties everything together and gives the audience a great show about spirited siblings who actually existed and adds more than just elements of the dead into their story.
“The Incredible Fox Sisters” continues Oct. 27-28 at 7:30 and Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. General admission tickets are $15, $10 for seniors, and $7 for students with LU ID and those who choose to dress up in costume will get in for $5.
For more information, visit lamar.edu/lutdix.