NEW YORK – Witchland at the Chain Theatre.Tonight's theatric offering was billed as a play depicting the town of Richland, Washington, as "the most toxic place in the Western Hemisphere." Here, as part of the Manhattan Project during World War II, the United States developed nuclear weapons, produced plutonium, and continued work in the late 1980s. It was no surprise to be greeted by theater ushers dressed in hazmat suits. Nina Randazzo as Shannon and Mars Holscher as Ali in a scene from Witchland. Photo credit Jordan SchreiberPlague DoctorsAs the audience entered the intimate, 65-seat black box theater, anticipation filled the air as people chatted about the ushers and grim dark setting. Silently sitting on the stage was an individual wearing a grotesque bird-like mask reminiscent of 17th-century European plague doctors. Dave Silberger as Jared, and Geoffrey Grady as Van in a scene from Witchland. Photo credit Jordan SchreiberHorriplilationsFilling the space was the sound of a forest with wolves and ravens evoking resonances reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe's dreadful poetic horripilations. The purpose of the evening's performance was yet a mystery. Still, clues ascertained by the initial sonic and visual images were undeniably captivating, offering a glimpse into a dark chapter of history.Provocatively EntertainingAs the story unfolded, the audience sojourned in a world of horror and black comedy. The initial elements of fear, tension, and tragedy were liberally peppered with dark and light humor, creating a unique, provocatively entertaining experience that was baffling and unsettling. Was that a reference to Nurse Rached from the famed film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest? Did someone say, "The baby cemetery was another Richland hot spot?" Nina Randazzo as Shannon and Theresa Della Valle as the Witch in a scene from Witchland. Photo credit Jordan SchreiberExpert TimingMoreover, tonight was not a gloomy chronicle or dreary vigil about superfund sites, nuclear waste, and Chernobyl. Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jr. were not terrorizing the townspeople; instead, author Tim Mulligan created a virtual world haunted perhaps by the spirit of a comedy team like Abbott and Costello, who, through expert timing and slapstick humor engaged in physical comedy routines, hyperbolic movements, and witty comedic pratfalls as they encountered the Wolfman, Invisible Man, or Count Dracula.Immersive, Intimate TheaterWitchland deftly wallowed in evil witches, curses, baby cemeteries, winsome teenagers, family life, heroes, and heroines set in a dark, mysterious landscape. It also delved into modern families, 21st-century social mores, and the broad diversity of big cities compared to sheltered villages. The show provided immersive, intimate theater as characters swished about, performing both from the stage and among the audience. Theresa Delle Valle as the Witch, Dave Silberger as Jared, and Caitlin Clark as the Judith double in a scene from Witchland. Photo credit Jordan SchreiberComedic ChemistryThe show was fun and entertaining, with witty banter and rapid-fire dialogue that added to the humor of encounters with the witch and other mysterious forces. The audience chuckled at the constant quips and one-liners, quick wit, and comedic chemistry. These exchanges lightened the tension of horror elements while keeping the audience engaged and entertained. Anyone afraid of the evil witch (Theresa Della Valle) had to laugh when she madly cackled while brandishing a rolling pin and oven glove. She was, in a word, hilarious! Dave Silberger as Jared, Mars Holscher as Ali, and Geoffrey Grady as Van in a scene from Witchland. Photo credit Jordan SchreiberSee For YourselfInventive lighting, sets, and soundscape well-supported the story, apparitions, and action. The costuming was creative and suited to this 21st-century setting of a decades-old story about a hard-working American town. What forces ultimately prevail - evil or hope? You’ll have to come and see for yourself.Witchland at the Chain TheatrePresented by the Manhattan Repertory TheatreCast (in order of disappearance)Chelsea Clark - Witch DoubleBen Wambeke – BrettNina Randazzo – ShannonNathan Cusson - Worker 2, Hair manGeoffrey Grady – VanMars Holscher - AliDave Silberger – JaredTheresa Della Valle - The WitchDanny McWilliams - Worker 1ArtisticBy Tim MulliganOriginal musical by Steisha Ponczoch and Brandon AlbuDirected by Ken WolfScenic Design by Charli BurkhardtSound and Light by Ken WolfPA and Props by Kate MurphyChain Theatre312 W 36th St., 4th floor,New York, NY 10018(917) 261-2446Runtime: 80 minutes without intermission.Click HERE for tickets.Readers may also enjoy our reviews of Stalker, Grief Hotel, The Notebook on Broadway, My Beatnik Youth: A Solo Riff, My Mother Had Two Faces, and Before the Drugs Kick In.https://youtu.be/R-HOu_rIWsc?si=DF--pu4oh6MvoREl