A Couple Finds Themselves In A Creepy Cabin In The Woods In Grey House

Onstage or -screen, the tropes of horror (teens in peril, demonic children, stormy nights, rusty saws, etc) have been exhausted for generations. What was once revolutionary is now mostly just revolting torture porn.

Which brings us to the hellishly fine cast. The cabin is home to Raleigh (the magnificent Kirsten Fitzgerald) and her children, Marlow (Sara Cartwright), A1656 (Haley Bolithon), Bernie (Kayla Casiano), Squirrel (Autumn Hlava), the Boy (Charlie Herman), and the Ancient (Dado). The last two don’t speak vocally. Bernie uses sign language, as does much of the cast. It is built into the voiced dialogue with a fluidity that adds layers of beauty and expressiveness to an already multitiered story. Also, it’s not a plot gimmick, a la Hush. Instead, it is simply as natural as breath. And death.

Through 12/1: Thu-Fri 7:30 PM, Sat 3 and 7:30 PM, Sun 3 PM; no show Thu 11/28, A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells, 312-943-8722, aredorchidtheatre.org, $30 Thu, $35 Fri and Sat matinee, $40 Sat evening and Sun matinee.