“Instructions for a Seance” (Milwaukee) reviewed by Amy Menzel

I had never considered it before, having never participated in a séance, but a studio theater seems like a fitting space for such a ritual. There’s an inherent intimacy, whether you’re seated in the third row as I was, on stage as a dozen or so were, or even in the last (9th) row. The lighting (Paige Seber) extends from the stage, up and over the entire house, bringing us all together. As the usher showed us to our seats, she encouraged us to pick up the paper and pencil set underneath each chair, which is a note to say there’s a little bit of audience participation here. It’s more an invitation to engage, though. I’m not sure everyone followed the few instructions early on in the production, but there wasn’t any scolding or shaming, so rest and attend assured, my fellow introverts.

Also know that you’re in good hands with playwright Katie Bender. She rushes onto the stage for this one-woman show in the natural flurry of a woman juggling the roles of partner, parent, and performer. We soon learn that this séance is her quest to escape it all, if just for a bit. Fittingly, Bender has chosen to summon the famous escape artist, Harry Houdini.

She takes us through the steps of a séance she says she found online. In doing so, we also gain insight into her life. Bits of memoir are sprinkled into this staged séance, as are bits of magic and transformation. It makes for a production that is both personal and considerate of the universal experience.

It’s worth circling back to the fact that Instructions for a Séance was selected as part of the New Play Development Program. A defining characteristic of such productions is that they are “innovative and ambitious works that have a strong point of view, push the theatrical form in either content or aesthetic or both, or deal with unusual subject matter or handle subject matter in an unusual and unique way.” Instructions for a Séance does all of this. (As promised, here’s a link to more info about the program: milwaukeerep.com/about-us/new-play-development)

I can imagine writing and performing this was a cathartic experience for Bender. She’s grappling with the challenges and messiness of life in the 21st century in interesting and perceptive ways. In doing so, she’s created a collective cathartic experience that obviously worked for many in attendance Friday night. At least one patron found the performance so moving that she was brought to tears. Presumably those who stood in ovation at the end of the show would give Instructions for a Séance four or five stars.

I enjoyed parts of this production very much, including the captivating scenic design by Collette Pollard. And, while I admire Bender’s creativity and ambition, and applaud her performance, this show doesn’t completely work for me. I give it three stars. Like Bender (and like us all, I assume, albeit in different ways), I also want a bit of an escape. Even though the show ended on a positive and supportive note, it’s the heavier parts that stayed with me as I left.

As they say, results may vary. It seems this may be true with séances, too.

★★★

Instructions for a Séance plays now through November  8th with performances as follows:

Saturdays – 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Sundays – 2 p.m.; 7 p.m. on October 18 and 25

Tuesday, October 20 – 6:30 p.m. / Tuesdays, October 27, November 3 – 7:30 p.m.

Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays  – 7:30 p.m

• Wednesday matinees October 14, October 28 – 1:30 p.m.

70 Minutes- NO INTERMISSION

Special dates include:

TalkBacks – following Wednesday evening performances, 10/14, 10/21

Audio-Described Performance – Thursday, October 22 at 7:30 p.m.

ASL Performance – Friday, October 30 at 7:30 p.m.

Closed-Captioned Performances – multiple dates

Community Nights include:

Girl Dinner + Theater: Thursdays, October 15, 22, 29 – pre-show at 6 p.m., curtain at 7:30 p.m.

Mom’s Night Out: Tuesday, October 27 – pre-show at 6 p.m., curtain at 7:30 p.m.

Special Pre-Show Experiences include:

Magic Workshop: Sunday, October 25 from 1-3 p.m.

Dinner Dialogue: Sunday, November 8 at 4:30 p.m.

Visit https://www.milwaukeerep.com/events/instructions-for-a-seance for more information and to purchase tickets.

Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased online at  www.milwaukeerep.com, ,or by calling the Box  Office at 414-224-9490, or in-person at 108 E. Wells Street in downtown Milwaukee.

Photos by Michael Brosilow