Point Loma

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There are moments in everyone’s life when strange or mysterious things happen. It may be something perceived out of the corner of one’s eye, an odd sound in a room, or a feeling that someone, something, is following you on a dark street, or seeing something that seems unreal, like a ghost or spirit form. At times, these apparitions have a profound impact on the popular imagination, leading to stories of haunted houses or ghostly manifestations. Even though there is almost no proof of these things being factual, peoples’ need for an explanation leads to the persistence of stories of paranormal events.

Point Loma by Tim Mulligan is a play about the paranormal events set in a historic house in the Point Loma area of San Diego. The house was used as a hospice associated with a nearby naval base. The story was inspired by Mulligan’s personal experiences with paranormal events in the home of a friend in the same area. Ken Wolf, artistic director and co-founder of Manhattan Repertory Theatre, skillfully directs an able and enthusiastic cast in their delivery of a story of things that go bump in the night. It’s an entertaining evening of theater for people who enjoy the thrill of a scary story.

The story centers on two nurses caring for a comatose patient in a historic house. The day nurse, Anna (Jessica Luhmann), is a Veterans Administration nurse assigned to care for the comatose patient Hank (Dave Silberger), who is the only resident in the house. Chad (Parker Jenkins) is the night nurse and the one who must deal with the weirdness the house has to offer when the sun goes down.

The catalyst for what is ultimately to transpire in the house is a team of podcasters whose show is called “Ghostley.” This team broadcasts live, on-site investigations of reported paranormal happenings from around the country. They are introduced in the prologue as they report from a house that was the scene of a gruesome crime five years before. Kim (Michelle Park) is the lead on-site reporter. She considers herself to be a medium sensitive to the presence of paranormal entities. She is supported by the podcast cameraman Carl (Mathew Hernandez). The man in the studio and the anchor for the team is Rick (Jevon Nicholson). Park, Hernandez, and Nicholson provide solid depictions of the characters and effectively present and amplify some of the story’s scary elements. The prologue introduces these characters and also introduces a traumatic element that will later appear in the story.

When Chad arrives at the house on his first night, Anna gives him an overview of what he has to deal with in taking care of Hank and an orientation of the house. In the course of the discussion in the kitchen, it is revealed that there has been a succession of night-shift nurses. It was only revealed the next day that there were six in six weeks. Anna provides this information without revealing any details of the reason the others left. As they are speaking, the door to the cellar keeps opening, and without missing a beat, Anna closes it before Chad notices anything.

On his first night on the job, Chad experiences the first of the strange happenings: loud bangs, his wireless speaker acting up, and objects in the kitchen changing location when he is not in the room. The following day, Chad recounts some of what he experienced but without getting into details. Anna, at this point, reveals some of the details of what may have caused the other night nurses to leave. Neither of them is completely honest about their experiences with the house until after a particularly nightmarish night of weird happenings, and Anna opens up to Chad about what she has experienced. It is at this point that the idea of ghosts comes into view.

The revelation about the possibility of ghosts introduces Chad’s partner, Todd (Ian Brady), who is a believer in the paranormal and a fan of the Ghostley podcast. When Chad tells him about the events at the house, Todd wants to visit it. Still, more interestingly, he also wants to contact the team from “Ghostley” to conduct an investigation. It is at this point that all of the characters come together to unravel the mystery of the house at Point Loma. Todd is a character who brings brightness and positive energy to the story, and Brady’s performance is solid, adding a humorous touch bordering on comedy without losing the emotional tension inherent in a ghost story.

Wolf’s direction skillfully manages the emotional tension to maintain the horror element of the story while also paying homage to B-movie scare tactics and tropes. Mulligan uses a device between scenes, featuring brief interludes of Rick and Kim watching scary movies, with Rick displaying fear and Kim being bored. It is an interesting and subtle way of adding definition to the two characters.

The investigation at the house triggers a wide range of paranormal events freaking out all of the characters, except for Hank, the supposedly comatose patient who suddenly comes to life with unexpected results to the investigation and the play.

In addition to the main cast, three other ensemble members play supporting roles as ghosts and other characters: Chelsea Clark, Nathan Cusson, and Patricia Griffith. The ghosts are intended to add a scary element to the production in various scenes, but they fail to achieve that goal. The limitations of the venue, costumes, and lighting effects reduce the visceral impact of the scary elements, even though Clark, Cusson, and Griffith make a determined effort.

Sound design and lighting design are essential elements of any show. Still, when the show is intended to have surprising elements, those design features become critical elements. Director Ken Wolf does a solid job with both the sound and lighting design within the limitations of the venue. His production design is also effective in conveying the contrast between the normal and the paranormal without the need for elaborate or intrusive special effects.

Point Loma (through June 15, 2025)

Manhattan Repertory Theatre

Chain Theatre, 312 West 36^th Street, in Manhattan.

For tickets, visit: http://www.witchlandplay.com/point-loma/

Running time: 90 minutes without an intermission