What I loved about this show was being reminded that witnessing art live is a totally different experience from experiencing it alone. But I won't jump on the bandwagon of claiming it's always better in every way--it's better in some ways and merely different and surprising in others.

I loved and relished the terror inflicted upon my soul by watching the Paranormal Activity films in my sister's living room, even though it meant returning to my apartment alone and being spooked by the mundanities that Paranormal had contaminated with dread: the overhead light that might flicker ominously at any moment, the pots and pans and steak knives on the kitchen counter that could suddenly be stuck to the ceiling for no reason.

Not to spoil the show, I'll say that the frightening moments were so supported and clearly built up, that the smoothness and speed of their execution (blink and you miss that shadow loping across the stage!) elicited helpless cries and laughter from the audience, which was more diverse in age, race, and other demographic identifiers than most shows I've seen at ACT's Geary Theater.

These moments hit us like jumpscares but they weren't scary because of their suddenness, but because of the sudden desecration of the apparent normalcy of their context--the things the characters, and we, could no longer trust our eyes and ears about got more and more banal, and that was terrifying. And yet, screaming along with everyone else in response to artists who could hear the effect their performed experiences provoked was....delightful?

Somehow, Paranormal Activity live was as scary as the films without the fear hangover that seeing the films without a thousand other people sharing my fear caused. It's yet another example of what live theater gives that no home theater can.

By LEVI HOLLOWAY
Directed by FELIX BARRETT
Restaged by LEVI HOLLOWAY

FEB 19–MAR 22, 2026
TONI REMBE THEATER
INFO HERE