Tomes of Terror II October 30, 2007

The Somerville-based PMRP have been performing live staged radio the way they did it back in the 1930's and 40's since 2005. Their re-creation of Arch boler's "Chicken Heart", the infamous lost episode of the seminal horror series Lights Out!, was very well-received. To capitalize on the success of that performance, the PMRP produced a full evening of radio plays for Halloween the following year.

Last year’s "Tomes of Terror" featured live re-creations of a 1939 Halloween episode of Fibber McGee and Molly, and adaptations of two short stories: the classic horror tale "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs and local author Edith Wharton's ghostly yarn, "The Lady Maid's Bell".

This year's show, "Tomes of Terror II", will feature:
·"Halloween Party" — From the classic comedy series Our Miss Brooks, which originally aired on CBS Radio and starred Eve Arden and Gale Gordon. In this re-creation of a 1949 Al Lewis episode, Constance Brooks, English teacher at Madison High School, agrees to host her students' Halloween party in order to dunk for apples with Mr. Boynton, the science teacher for whom she holds a candle. But she hasn't figured on Principal Conklin's blood pressure!

·"Carmilla" — An adaptation of J. Sheridan LeFanu's 1872 novella, written for CBC Radio's terrifying horror series Nightfall by Graham Pomeroy and John Douglas in 1982. In this story, the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula, a young woman dreams of a friend her own age. But in the dark depths of the Black Forest, nothing is quite what it seems and she gets more than she ever wanted. A chilling tale of childish fantasy and lost innocence.

·"The Stone Ship" — Another adaptation from Nightfall, this one written by Len Peterson in 1981 and based on William Hope Hodgson's eerie 1914 sea-bound thriller. In 1887, the crew of the merchant windjammer Alfred Jessop, adrift for days and shrouded in an unnatural mist, stumble across the wreck of an impossible ship. Venturing aboard the derelict challenges the sanity of a stalwart British sea captain and his faithful crew.

The Post-Meridian Radio Players' live shows feature local actors, a team of artists making sound effects with everyday (and not-so-everyday) objects, atmospheric digital audio effects, live musical accompaniment and a creepy, enigmatic host called The Librarian. These performances raise money to support the PMRP's studio productions.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors.

Official Website: http://www.pmrp.org