MadLab tackles psychological thriller

MadLab takes on intense staging of Mark Cornell's "The Killing Room"

By Dwayne Steward

Metromix

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MadLab Theatre plans to take on Halloween as only the alternative (oft controversial) troupe knows how, with a deep and gritty look into a man's psychosis, but with an elaborate dark and scary stage setting to match.

The troupe is planning a massive restructuring of their Grant Avenue space downtown in order to properly bring their season to a close with Mark Conell's "The Killing Room" Oct. 8-31. In true MadLab fashion, they're hoping to present a chilling experience theatergoers have never seen before, said Chris Lane, the show's director and MadLab's head artistic director.   

Cornell's script follows Jack Whitmore (played by John Kuhn), a lonely silent moviehouse pianist who's ghoulish nightmares send him on a quest through his past for answers, answers that nearly cost him his life.

The story follows that old-school 1950s horror film format, which Lane said gave him a bit of a trouble artistically.

"The challenge was trying to translate that to the stage," Lane said. "Trying to make something like this come to life was the reason I wanted to take it on."

Staging a world that Jack creates in his mind, coupled with the script's elements of thriller and suspense are just of the creative roadblocks presented. But Lane said the MadLab crew rose to the occasion.

"We make it rain onstage," Lane said giddily. "It's much more involved then anything we've done so far and a great closing to the season."

Though somewhat revolutionary for the small theater, ideas for "The Killing Room" have actually been bouncing around amongst MadLabers for nearly two years. Cornell, a North Carolina playwright, submitted the script soon after MadLab staged his play, "The Inciting Incident" in 2007.

"He didn't think anybody would ever produce it because of its style," Lane said. "So, he's tickled pink we're even doing it."

And so are we.

"The Killing Room" opens 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 and runs Fridays and Saturdays until through Oct. 31. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at the MadLab Web site.