Review: ‘A Haunting Revue’ Hollywood Fringe Festival reprise

Promo for "A Haunting Revue"

“A Haunting Revue” is a tightly constructed anthology of three eerie, unsettling stories that explore the monstrous side of humanity. Directed by Richard Page and written by Aditya Putcha and Page, this three-part production leans into themes of death, mortality and human behavior at its worst.

The acting across all three pieces was impressive. Every actor brought care and nuance to their performance. In “The Inheritance of Dracula,” Morry Schorr (as Bela Lugosi) and Ari Litman Weinberg (as Christopher Lee) gave a haunting performance. The two actors created an intensity that lingered, with both delivering subtleties that pulled me in and kept me focused. Their chemistry and contrast of choices were engaging to watch.

“La Mano del Mono” was another standout. Chris Periko (as Paul) and Yaritza Rodriguez (as Herlinda) maintained an incredible dynamic capturing not only the tension but the unspoken cultural friction between the characters. Their scenes felt lived-in, charged with conflict and deep emotional undercurrents. Supporting performances from Lola Buckland (as Paula), Aditya Putcha (as Nikhil), and Brendan Getches (as William), reminded me that in the right hands, there truly are no small roles.

Aditya Putcha in "A Haunting Revue" (Photo courtesy Aditya Putcha)

As for “Birds of a Feather,” even though I didn’t get to watch it live, the recorded version still hit.* Wade Oxford (as Hunter) and Jaedra DiGiammarino (as Daisy) had natural sibling energy, but Jola Cora (as Zanzie) really stood out. Watching her silent reactions actually made me focus more on the entire sibling dynamic.

Page did an excellent job directing these three short plays as each piece had its own aura. The use of stillness in “The Inheritance of Dracula,” while keeping the two main characters seated across from one another, made every small movement feel deliberate. The rain audio that ran throughout added a soft tension that sat underneath the performance and never let up. In “La Mano del Mono,” the lightning strikes during each wish granted by the Monkey Paw were sharp, dramatic, and highly effective.

The overall set design was minimal, but it worked out. Lighting and sound design carried the mood and elevated the storytelling. The aesthetic wasn’t flashy, but it didn’t need to be. It gave the actors space to work and kept the focus on the story.

Overall, “A Haunting Revue” is a thoughtful, well-crafted exploration of how easily humans can become the monsters we fear. That underlying theme connected the anthology in a subtle but powerful way. As I left the theater, a quote from Nietzsche kept coming to mind: “If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.” That’s exactly the vibe this production captured. I’d absolutely recommend it to fans of horror, drama or anyone just looking to see some good theatre.

“A Haunting Revue” performed on July 18 at Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre, 5636 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, in a reprise of its June Hollywood Fringe Festival run, having earned the 2025 Best of Feury’s “Sold Out Award.”

* Only two of the three pieces performed in person due to the unavailability of an actor for this encore, but attendees received a 4K video of all three segments.