‘Claws’ is a New Theatrical Horror Experience!
Whether you’re a lover of theater or a fan of horror, these experiences share one thing in common: you’re an observer. Whether you are witnessing magic on stage or settling into your chair at the cinema for the latest scary movie, you are removed from what is happening in an integral way. Regardless of what you’re seeing, it doesn’t clash with your reality. You are safe, separated by distance and the knowledge that whatever it is, it isn’t real. However, what happens if the walls between reality and art collapse, and audiences are brought right smack dab in the middle of a show? And what if that show also happens to be horror unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before? That’s exactly the corner in which the new theatrical horror experience, Claws, is set.
The award-winning creatives behind Claws are pushing the boundaries of alternate reality theatre at Candle House Collective. They are asking audiences to set aside their preconceived notions of what theater should be and start thinking about what it can be. Claws brings you into the world of a hotline operative at a crisis center who answers the call of a very scared boy named Danny. However, very quickly the call goes from routine to sinister, and you have to determine what’s right and what’s wrong, and at the end of the day, what’s going to save Danny’s life before it’s too late?
Are you ready for your shift? Because it’s time to answer the call and see what Claws has in store for you.
[Warning: spoilers from Claws are below!]
Monster or mischief?
Welcome to the Etcetera Helpline! Your presence is greatly appreciated and desperately needed. The job is simple: just wait for a call to come in, and when you pick it up, just say “How may I help you?” and the rest should figure itself out! While the instructions and training are easy, you never quite know what you’re going to find on the other end, much like the story of young Danny.
It’s your first day at Etcetera Helpline, or at least that’s how it feels as you, the audience member, become an integral part of Claws. It’s your job to help Danny with his particular problem, which is unlike anything you might encounter on a traditional helpline. Danny calls in asking for help on a problem that no one else seems willing to tackle. Well, actually, he begs you to believe him, as no one seems willing to do that either, and he’s afraid for his and his father’s lives.
Early on in the frantic call, Danny confides in you that not only has he been haunted by a monster, but he currently has it trapped in his closet. This monster has been making him ill and has even taken on his appearance, and he’s worried that he’ll be replaced if he doesn’t do something quickly. None of the other adults in his life believes him that the monster is real.
It’s your job to keep Danny alive, and your choices fundamentally change the story. There’s a chance he’s telling the truth that there’s a monster; however, only you can decide if a monster truly exists, and perhaps more importantly, which side of the closet it’s currently residing on. Do you think you can get to the bottom of this mystery and save Danny’s life?
Claws is a theatrical experience unlike any other
I’ve seen a lot of shows throughout my life. I’ve just seen my 100th Broadway or touring show, not counting all the community and regional shows I’ve taken in as well. I’ve sat through shows that have entertained and also those that have bored, but I can say that none of my previous theater experiences has come close to that of Claws.
The formal boundaries one might expect from a play or musical are completely broken down. You are not a simple observer of Claws; you are an integral part of the story. For the 60 minutes in which you’re on a call with the actor, you are the star of your own horror story, instead of just a passive participant. You can’t just sit there disengaged; the experience requires you to be involved, influencing the story as it unfolds.
That’s not something you can claim with most shows out there. It’s different, perhaps just a tad unsettling, and completely revolutionary. It’s like one of those choose-your-own-adventure novels from when we were children, but in a novel way. Every word you say to Danny fundamentally changes what is happening around you, impacting this teenager and the world he lives in. Say the wrong thing, and you might push him over the edge. Refuse to believe him, and he may do something sudden (and stupid) to prove to you he isn’t “crazy”. As a psychologist, I felt adept at handling situations like this, but even I couldn’t always predict how he would respond or what consequences my words might have.
You’re also relying completely on your sense of hearing and your imagination to build the world of Claws, which might be the ultimate form of horror. There’s nothing scarier than what I can personally form in my own head, as the horror layers with each new sound that’s introduced into the soundscape. All you have to go on is what Danny is telling you and the sounds of his world, which, for someone with an active imagination such as myself, is the most terrifying aspect of the experience.
You have no idea what is really happening on the other side of the phone. Sure, we’re cognizant that it’s an actor, but when you’re sitting in a dark room, by yourself, and you hear a scared child begging for help, you’re pulled into a reality that is far from your own. You are living in a world where monsters are real, and danger is ever present. That’s the brilliance of Claws: not only does it push what theater is, but it also pushes audiences to expand their minds and create horror that is specifically tailored to them.
Final thoughts on Claws
I’m not one who gets easily spooked. I’ve seen so many horror movies that nothing really fazes me; however, Claws did. This is a moment where you aren’t just observing the horror; you’re living it. It’s happening around you, and you’re bearing witness to the terror unlike any other show out there. It’s visceral in a way that isn’t graphic or disgusting, but it’s like seeing (or, in this case, hearing) something that you shouldn’t be. Claws is an experience that all horror fans should seek out immediately because you can’t find a show like this anywhere else. It’s both a joy and an absolutely terrifying experience that is revolutionizing what theater is in such a brilliant way.
Claws is playing through October 2nd, so get your tickets now for this experience! Have you checked it out yet? Does this sound like something up your alley? Share your thoughts on social media and tag @bsb.insider to continue the conversation!
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