Paranormal Activity: Supernatural Scare Tactics in American Theatre
- He's been doing magic since age four, so he's well-versed in stage scares and surprises.
- "We knew the illusions needed to come before the design," director Barrett recalled.He learned from past experience not to create a design and than try to fit illusions...
- "Illusion in theater is about integration into the narrative," Fisher said.
Chris Fisher designs illusions. He’s been doing magic since age four, so he’s well-versed in stage scares and surprises. His Broadway credits include Stranger Things: The First Shadow and Harry Potter and the Cursed child. The team behind the new Paranormal Activity show wanted Fisher involved early in progress.
“We knew the illusions needed to come before the design,” director Barrett recalled.He learned from past experience not to create a design and than try to fit illusions into it. Fisher agreed,explaining audiences can usually tell when something feels added on.
“Illusion in theater is about integration into the narrative,” Fisher said. “You don’t want it to feel like you’re wheeling a magic box on stage, preempting something. That can dilute the moment. Magic is about surprise, about wonder.”
The team identified key moments in the script requiring uncanny effects. They then held workshops,experimenting with potential illusions.Holloway was impressed by Fisher’s ability to find solutions to any challenge.
“once we knew he wouldn’t say no, we kept pushing him,” holloway said. “Sometimes he’d laugh and say, ‘You guys are nuts.’ But he’s the same kind of nuts.”
Fisher’s team built basic structures to demonstrate ideas, then stress-tested them. Holloway enjoyed learning how the illusions worked, while Barrett preferred to remain in the dark.
“I actively didn’t want to see the process,” Barrett said.”I could be an audience member and see if it worked. It was amazing. There were a couple I didn’t figure out until much later.”
Holloway had the opposite reaction. “I have to know,” he said. ”It’s like wanting to know how a nightmare works,or a gore effect. Knowing makes it safe.”
Many ideas didn’t make the cut, including a person-on-fire bit, a lengthy mesmerism act, and a trick “so phenomenal it’s almost worth building a whole show around,” according to Barrett. He wouldn’t reveal details-only that it would require retrofitting a