Thriller 2021

I have been attending Odyssey Dance Theatre's Halloween extravaganza Thriller for years and years and it is always so much fun!  It is one of my favorite Halloween traditions!  I was able to see this year's production at Kingsbury Hall (it is being performed in six different venues) last night and I loved it!  I (along with the rowdy and enthusiastic crowd) always look forward with great anticipation to all of the old favorites, including the undead cavorting in a graveyard in "Thriller," a breakdancing mummy and his maidens in "Curse of the Mummy," misbehaving pandas in "Miss Alli's Nightmare," a Pas de Deux gone horribly wrong in "Frankenstein & Frankenstein" (I am always amazed at how flexible the Bride of Frankenstein is in this number), glow in the dark tap dancing skeletons in "Dem Bones," a trio of Jasons who wield various weapons in "Jason Jam" (this gets funnier every year), scarecrows that are not what they seem in "Children of the Corn," a coven of condemned witches seeking vengeance from beyond the grave in "Salem's Mass" (my favorite number in the show), acrobatic vampires in "Lost Boys," and a costume parade in "Trick or Treat."  I am also very eager to see if there are any new numbers in the show and this year there was one called "Annabelle at the Ball."  This involved dancing porcelain dolls inhabited by spirits summoned by a group of schoolgirls and it was really creepy when the lights came on to reveal the dolls in the audience!  As in year's past, artists from Aeris Aerial Arts performed in between the numbers and they were absolutely amazing.  In addition to "Siren of the Sea" and "Phantom of the Opera," which were performed last year, this year included a group of six artists costumed as wolves and one as Little Red Riding Hood performing on a spinning globe in "Full Moon" and two artists costumed as snakes performing on silks in "Slytherin." I have no idea how these aerialists do what they do!  My only complaint with this year's show was the return of Giggle Girl and her comedy routine in between the numbers.  I think she is so annoying and I wish they would bring back Bubbles the Clown!  Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed this show and I highly recommend adding Thriller to your list of Halloween traditions (go here for information, venues, and tickets).

Note:  This year marked the return of the undead who wander the aisles before the show.  Do not make eye contact with them!  Trust me on this!