-A PRISM PRODUCTION-
In May of 1999, PRISM productions staged this original "pantomusical."
The concept behind this unique show was to bring out a full visual interpretation of a complete King Diamond album on stage, with live action, motile set, various visual effects, and all in real-time following along with the CD playing in the background, pausing only between tracks for scene changes.
With some brilliant, intense performances and an elaborate visual display, The Graveyard ran for 3 nights, and the show was a complete success. The story revolves around the escape of a Lunatic from Black Hill Sanitarium, and his attempt at revenge against the man he claims is responsible for his "wrongful" imprisonment, Mayor McKenzie. He seeks refuge in a cemetery after murdering the only two people who saw him arrive, a gravedigger and a prostitute. Awaking the next morning, he has a limited memory of his escape, is accomapanied by the bodies of the previous night's kill, and only knows he must have his justice. He also relates to the audience an old superstition...
"Did you know, if you die in a graveyard
The soul can't escape if you lose your head
But it lives on in the brain...in your brain "
(Throughout the play, his dark obsession is personified by the bodies of Mary and Jeremiah, brought to life only in his imagination.) The Lunatic kidnaps the Mayor's daughter, Lucy, from her school playground. While digging a series of seven graves, he explains to the audience that he used to be in McKenzie's employ, and that one day he discovered the Mayor molesting Lucy, and that the Mayor had him put away so no one would believe him, blaming the molestation on him (The audience is left to decide how true this really is.)
That night he calls the Mayor, and confirms McKenzie's fears that he is responsible for Lucy's disappearance. He instructs him to meet him by the cemetery gates at Midnight. McKenzie complies, and is blindfolded and forced into a game of what the Lunatic calls "Trick Or Treat".
"Lucy is sleeping...in one of seven graves
Now you decide, which ones are trick or treat.
Trick or treat, let us go hide and seek
I can only let you fail this twice
The third time you must be right."
Unfortunately, the Mayor manages to choose the right grave on his third try (after digging up the corpse of Mary the Hooker on his second, to the Lunatic's delight), so instead of playing by the rules and letting the Mayor go free, he whacks him over the head with a shovel. The Lunatic then proceeds to completely lose it. Having tossed McKenzie into the tomb he calls home, he goes to dig Lucy up, but is haunted by a phantom of his dead father, who chastises him for the crimes against Lucy he claims not to have committed. (As the Daddy apparition is another figment of his imagination, this is not conclusive proof of guilt, but something of a puzzle. Guilt or insanity? Once again, the audience is left to decide.
Finally freeing Lucy, he returns to the tomb (after a brief mental enounter with the spirits of any who died by his hands, which he is brought out of by Lucy...for some reason...) and he begins to "pass judgement" on the Mayor.
"I, the Jury and the Judge-
Find you guilty of stealing the innocence of a child.
And therefore, we sentence you to- die. Slowly, die.
Die die die die die die die..... "
Taking advantage of a distracted moment, Lucy frees an overhead window, sending the broken glass down (conveniently) directly on the Lunatic's neck. She sets her father free, and they make their way out of the graveyard. Beckoned by the spirit of the Lunatic (who is trapped in his own disembodied head, as per the legend) Lucy leaves her resting father, and retrieves the head, concealing it in her schoolbag.
CAST
The Lunatic Josh Richards
Lucy McKenzie Angel Hitchcox
Mayor McKenzie Chris Lossing
Jeremiah Dan Brijbag
Mary the Hooker Erica Sherlock
Mrs. McKenzie Dahlia Legault
Daddy/ Guard Bill Doran
"Larry" Nyk Langlois
"Captain Howdy" Sal Cozzolino
Nursie Erin Brownell & Sara Olson
Orderly Keith Dupree
Psychos Teena Gusler, Carrie Morris,Carrie Piechowictz, Christina Vakalopoulos,
Diana Gallo, Emily Cirelli, Kristen Quinn, Stephanie Pereira, Danielle Fisher,
Stylo, Shroud
CREW
Director Bryan P. Merrigan I
Producer Keith Dupree
Stage Manager Taylor Goodwill
Sound Guy Paul Piechowict
Lighting Director Brian Jones
Spot Operators Ellyann Rodriguez
Elise Rodriguez
Props Mistress Victoria Motese
Flyrail Technician Mike Faustini
Stagehands Jen "Shroud" McLain
Brian R. Parks
Brian "Stylo" Rogoski
Robert Hanks
Donald Kumlodi
Made the Head Keith Dupree
Painted it Josef Saxophone
PHOTOS
(Be Warned. Some of these are rather large.)
- The Cast
- The Crew
- The Tomb
-Outside (almost completed)
- "Heads On The Wall" (Rehearsal)
- Dead Chicks =]
- We bought waaay too much dry ice.
- Daddy, Ethel McKenzie, The Lunatic, Larry, Mary, Nursie, Mayor McKenzie
Brian Jones...Jenn McLain...
If either of you happen to run across the single video copy of Graveyard that was somehow "misplaced" between the two of you, I'd appreciate it if you could let me know.
I know a bunch of people who deserve copies, but I need the original to do that.
Thanks, guys.
