A creepy cast embraces darkness

The Overlook Hotel from Stephen King’s "The Shining" probably got better reviews on TripAdvisor than the cursed accommodations that serve as the main setting in "Very Still & Hard to See," the latest production at the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

The selection of seven haunted stories by Los Angeles writer Steve Yockey was partially inspired by Japanese folk tales. Kimberly Shire’s obake-style costumes in the UH production acknowledge the Asian influence. The spirits wear masks, most with a blank, white face that give the horror a local, Glenn Grant feel.

The action starts with architect Buck Mason falling down a hole during construction of his masterpiece hotel project. Immediately he is greeted by a malevolent supernatural force whose lair he has disturbed. An unholy bargain is struck, and the audience is then introduced to the unfortunate patrons of the demon’s haunted establishment. By the end, Mason’s tragic fate is revealed as well.

As the vengeful wraith warns the poor architect, the hotel becomes a virtual "ghost playground" for legions of netherworld inhabitants. In one story, something wicked comes between two best friends sharing a hotel suite. In another, a manic-depressive wife learns her husband is cheating on her and later deals with a "hole" that opens in their kitchen floor. Other tales feature a woman who seemingly becomes possessed by a destructive storm; an undead lesbian looking for love who can’t stop devouring her first dates; and a traveler who takes the ride of his life, or death, on an elevator.

Of course, the main intent of "Very Still & Hard to See," is to scare. But beneath the creepiness, as director Alex Munro says in his notes, love is also an important theme. There are also issues of addiction, paranoia and abuse.

The cast members embrace the darkness in their performances while handling multiple roles. The standouts include Shaun Dikilats, who portrays cheating husbands and confused best friends who are mostly flabbergasted, being thrown to the ground or are completely bug-eyed terrified.

Kyle Scholl plays the surprisingly cheerful lesbian lady killer with a dance in her step to hide her underlying sadness.

Tristan Holmes brings a droll sense of dastardly calm and professional efficiency as the elevator operator from hell (or thereabouts).

Sound is put to skillful use thanks to sound designer Elise Shuford. Voices whisper through speakers strategically placed around the theater. (For once, the entire audience faces the stage, instead of the venue’s usual "in the round" seating style.) Construction noises set the tone for the opening scenes and lend the stage, mostly made of underground rock formations, an eerie, industrial and cavernous feel. And rain and crashing thunder are used to surprisingly subtle effect in the ghost stories.

Those looking for an Asian-flavored scare to welcome in the spring will want to get spirited away by "Very Still & Hard to See."