SYNOPSIS: Drawing from actual occurrences experienced by the playwright, POINT LOMA centers on Chad, a hospice nurse who accepts a night shift position in a storied Point Loma residence near San Diego's military owned Liberty Station. Following a series of unsettling paranormal experiences, a paranormal podcast team arrives to investigate. They discover that the home has a gruesome and shocking history, rooted in the history of San Diego. Their investigation reveals a crucial revelation: the tales of these lingering spirits require their stories be told for the living to find closure and for the spirits themselves to attain peace.
REVIEW: Tim Mulligan’s supernatural dramedy, POINT LOMA, marks his return to the Chain Theater, under the direction of Ken Wolf, Artistic Director and co-founder of Manhattan Repertory Theatre. This follows last year's “Witchland”, also staged there by Mulligan and Wolf. Featuring returning actors Dave Silberger and Chelsea Clark, POINT LOMA is a lively and contemporary supernatural farce that encourages the audience to scream along.
(L-R) Actors Parker Jenkins as Chad & Jessica Luhmann as Anna, photo courtesy of Chris Bentley.
Mulligan skillfully incorporates his personal supernatural experiences into a narrative that showcases his deep understanding and enthusiasm for supernatural drama and comedy acumen. The story features a diverse array of characters, each grappling with their own reasons for enduring the persistent spectral entities seeking connection. In contrast to his earlier work, POINT LOMA adopts a lighter, character-driven approach, avoiding cliché and the inclusion of social subtext. Indeed, its themes and humor remain PG-13, broadening its appeal. The characters are generally amiable, and a sense of controlled chaos, akin to a Marx Brothers film, permeates the production. A surprising twist awaits, and true to genre conventions, the tale extends beyond the apparent conclusion. The dialogue is consistently playful and witty, perfectly suited to the plot's unfolding circumstances and a lyrical banter happens when the characters are engaged.
The production bursts with energetic and infectious staging and directing. Hank, playing a comatose patient, serves as a catalyst for a character until they are joined by another cast member. Classic theatrical magic animates much of the narrative as draws open and close, pictures fall off the wall, and cryptic messages appear on kitchen items. Skillfully choreographed sound design enhances the theatrical sleight of hand and performances. Transitions are filled with small scenes offstage or roaming ghost figures unnerving the audience with strange sounds and fleeting appearances before the lights come up again.
(L-R) Actors Jevon Nicholson as Rick & Michelle Park as Kim, photo courtesy of Chris Bentley.
The production and costume designs were excellent. For an off-Broadway show, the set was notably impressive. Its minimalist yet well-conceived design effectively immersed the audience in the story. Costuming was utilized subtly but effectively, with few changes, minor accessory additions or subtractions, and slight adjustments in certain scenes to enhance both the performances and narrative. A spirit trumpet, a thin metal cone meant to amplify voices of the dead, plays a key role. While it was the correct shape, the prop appeared to be constructed from something other than metal.
Ken Wolf's masterful direction shines in POINT LOMA, showcasing a magical interplay between the cast and stage effects. The ensemble scenes, rich with movement, sound effects, and engaging actions, embody the classic poetry of a staged comedy. The actors swiftly establish their characters, captivating the audience and holding their focus throughout the energetic 90-minute performance. The cast is excellent, delivering a compelling, relentless and memorable evening.
(L-R) Actors Jevon Nicholson as Rick, Michelle Park as Kim (on table), Ian Brady as Todd, Parker Jenkins as Chad & Matthew Hernandez as Carl (back to camera), photo courtesy of Chris Bentley.
Tim Mulligan’s POINT LOMA, directed by Ken Wolf, is a delightfully sensational supernatural farce. Evoking a blend of “Will & Grace” and “Ghost Hunters” where the ghosts finally show up, it guarantees an entertaining experience. However, I found myself slightly wishing the narrative had incorporated some social issues, with the same light touch as “Witchland.” Furthermore, unlike Mulligan’s previous “Witchland,” online searches yielded no connection to any darker undertones of the story. While information about the US military’s Liberty Station is readily available, I couldn't uncover any hidden secrets or documented supernatural occurrences.
I highly recommend exploring witchlandplay.com to learn about Richland, a small Eastern Washington town with dark secrets. You can also order a graphic novel there, inspired by the stage play of the same title and its sequel, "Snitchland." "Snitchland" is also based on a Mulligan play, and I'm eager for its staging here in New York, hopefully soon.
POINT LOMA begins previews at Chain Theatre, located at 312 West 36th Street, 3rd Fl. Between 8th and 9th Avenues, on Saturday. May 31st with shows at 3PM and 7PM and Sunday June 1st at 3PM. Opening night is Wednesday June 4th at 7PM. The regular performance schedule is Wednesday June 4th thru Friday June 6th at 7PM, Saturday June 7th at 3PM and 7PM and Sunday June 8th at 3PM, then Wednesday June 11th thru Friday June 13th at 7PM, Saturday June 14 at 3PM and 7PM and Sunday June 15th at 3PM. All tickets are $40. For tickets go to https://witchland.thundertix.com/events/238172.
Official Site: https://witchlandplay.com/point-loma/
Hey, in all seriousness, why the fuck would we put two toddlers in the care of someone who called the suicide prevention hotline because he broke up with his own girlfriend and she accepted it and wouldn't let him go back on it? Why would she want her exbf to watch her kids, especially when the older one has been telling her he doesn't even watch them, he just sits in his room and yells at them?
Also, he called the suicide prevention hotline and then was shocked when they forced him to go to the hospital and stay for 72 hours. He genuinely believed they'd talk her into staying with him. Emiel Mulligan is an abusive worthless pos, and I'm glad my sister is standing up for herself but she needs to start taking screenshots and videos and posting them. His dads, Tim Mulligan and I can't quite remember the other one, clearly did a pretty shit job when he was a kid bc there's a reason he thinks everyone owes him whatever he wants. Also Tims cookbook is super weird.
When the local bats find their way into the buried tanks of radioactive and deadly toxic waste buried in the ground in Richland, Washington, home of the Hanford Nuclear Reactor cleanup site, a new type of "monster" is born - think Trainspotting meets The Lost Boys meets Toxic Avenger.
The third volume of the World of Witchland graphic novel trilogy, Twitchland is dark, funny, and completely unpredictable, finding our favorite family again left trying to understand and survive an unspeakably messy and dangerous cascade of events. Reflecting the drug epidemic hitting towns across our country, Twitchland combinesan addiction culture with toxic waste in the haunted town of Richland, animating a terrifying and wholly unique graphic novel experience unlike anything you've ever expected.
"Chernobyl meets The Haunting of Hill House in this chilling graphic novel." - BookTrib on Witchland
"An intriguing graphic novel featuring a story of corporate irresponsibility with supernatural themes." - Kirkus Reviews on Snitchland
Twitchland: The Graphic Novel When you thought it couldn't get worse... When the local bats find their way into the buried tanks of radioact
Nestled near an infamous site associated with the Manhattan Project, lies Richland, Washington, one of three small towns in its vicinity. By July 1945, the site had three reactors operational, producing sufficient plutonium for both an atomic bomb test and the bomb dropped on Nagasaki in August of the same year. The site continued to be involved in nuclear projects until the 1980s, when it transitioned into an environmental cleanup project.
This is the backdrop and the childhood home of author Tim Mulligan, where reality and myth intertwine. Jared has just landed his dream job at the Hanford Nuclear Site. This exciting opportunity brings him, his husband Van, and their adopted African American daughter Ali to temporary accommodations. As they eagerly await their new home to be finished, they find themselves living across the street from a reclusive and mysterious neighbor—a witch. A series of strange and unnerving events unfold, leading the family to question the true nature of their neighbor. Could she be a real witch, or are they merely experiencing the adverse health effects of living in the shadow of "the most toxic place in the Western Hemisphere"?
WITCHLAND is Tim Mulligan first play and it’s based on his own experiences growing up in the real Witchland - Richland, WA. Since writing Witchland, Tim has added two other tales set in his mysterious hometown to create a trilogy - Snitchland, and Bitchland – all written as plays and as graphic novels. The first graphic novel, Witchland: A Graphic Novel, was published in February 2024. Tim is also the author of the best-selling leadership book, “ROAR,” as well as the recent “A Perfect 10” cookbook series. Tim is an avid fan of theater/movies/books/TV, pretty much all things pop culture – especially in the horror genre.
WITCHLAND was recently staged at the Chain Theater the first two weekends of April 2024. For information about future productions and links to view and purchase the graphic novel, visit witchlandplay.com.
