Only in the last few years have I gained the ability to enjoy scary movies, and it still often requires the aid of a blanket shielding at least one of my eyes. The transition to horror fan has been a slow one, but this year it was time to take a big leap forward and venture into the unknown: a haunted house.
Fortunately, this year the Merced College Theater Department is hosting a haunted house in their campus theater. “Temple of Gloom” is more than just a haunted house, however. The experience feels like an escape room, haunted house, and theater performance all wrapped into one delightful fright.
Merced College successfully avoided the ‘you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all’ trap with this year’s haunted house. The Indiana Jones-esque story should prove entertaining to even the most well-seasoned adventurer.
Despite only being Merced College’s second haunted house, the production quality felt top tier. This is in part thanks to the special fx makeup provided by Cynthia Frias and Jose Sanchez, and the set and lighting designed by Theater Production Lead Chad Phillips, not to mention the more than 30 students who make it possible.
Thoughtful details abound. While visitors wait their turn, they stand in a decorated lobby complete with screens reminiscent of pre-ride amusement park videos, which include clues that may aid adventurers as they enter.
As a newbie to the in-person scare scene, the experience was fortunately mild enough to prevent me from fully hyperventilating, while still alarming enough to get my heart pumping and my palms sweaty. The walk has a couple distinctive moments, and without spoiling anything I will say that the biggest scare resulted in me nearly pushing over a woman a few decades my senior. Don’t worry, she’s fine, though I might not be.
“Temple of Gloom” is a devised production created by the theater department, so the students and staff put together a fully original experience, from the sets and costuming to the dialogue and jump scares. This is Merced College’s second haunted house, the first taking place two years ago. The events are staggered to match with the standard two years students spend in the theater arts program, giving them the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of performances.
Merced College Theater Arts Professor Lauren McCue-Bryx said productions like the haunted house reflect the market that awaits theater students.
“Being a part of a devised production is great for them because they’re helping to design costumes, masks, they’re working on the script, they’re developing characters, so they’re doing everything from scratch. And a lot of actors find work through creating their own projects, so I always encourage them to figure out how to create on their own.”
The benefits of the haunted house for students aren’t just creative. According to McCue-Bryx, multiple students who participated in the college’s first haunted house have since had paid work in similar environments, in part thanks to their experience.
“Actors have opportunities to audition for these productions, make money as an actor, and this immersive environment you really can’t replicate unless you’re doing this type of show, because they get to interact with so many people that come through the hall, members of the community, and get to really adjust their performance depending on the person who’s engaging with them.”
One unique feature of Temple of Gloom is how involved the audience is in the experience. Throughout the walk my group was asked to make choices that could influence the outcome of the adventure, so every walkthrough offers a slightly different experience.
As my group made their way to the exit, a cast member creeped up behind me and told me, with a sinister whisper: “Get the bad ending next time – it’s more fun.” At the time I swore up and down one walk-through was enough for me, but after a couple days of letting my confidence refill, I think I just might give it one more go.
“Temple of Gloom” runs until October 30 at the Merced College Theater. Shows are from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Admission is $10, and Tuesday will feature a special performance by the Merced College concert band outside the theater.