The Black Vault
| The Black Vault | |
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| Theater | The Hideout Theatre |
| Directed by | Marc Majcher |
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| Run | Sep/Oct 2012 |
The Black Vault was an improvised longform show, each show consisting of three individual stories linked by a framing narrative, performed in the style of the novels and stories of H.P. Lovecraft.
Format
Each show in the mainstage run was divided into three stories. A predetermined group of characters would begin on stage, establishing a framing sequence. Eventually, one of the characters would say a phrase which might constitute the title of a Lovecraftian story, and the title was taken up by one of the show's two predetermined main characters. That character would then narrate a story, stepping into and out of the scene as desired. At the conclusion of the story, the framing sequence would resume, until a second title is announced, at which case the second narrator would begin his or her story. After that, the framing sequence resumed for a final time, at which point the frame itself became the third story and one (non-predetermined) character from the frame became the final narrator.
Style
The Black Vault stories were generally of three main styles:
- Weird horror -- Tales of unnatural doings moored in such horror tropes as reanimation of the dead, infestation, mind control, or madness.
- Dreamscape -- Following the style of Lovecraft's "Dream Cycle," these stories focused on the inner life of the dreaming mind, usually with a fantasy or science fiction bent.
- Cosmic horror -- As in the stories in Lovecraft's "Cthulhu Mythos," these stories focused on unknowable and largely unseen forces from beyond the stars, represented on Earth by mysterious cults and strange ancient artifacts.
History
After its mainstage run, there were a number of one-off shows:
- 12/6/12: "Lovecraft Secrets", a mash-up with Austin Secrets that played at The Free Fringe.
- 4/13/13: a 25-minute show played The 2013 Improvised Play Festival.
- 5/5/13: a 25-minute show played "nerd-prov", a nerd-themed quadruple-bill at The Institution Theater.
- 5/23/13: "Pick Your Own Black Vault", a mash-up with Pick Your Own Path that played at The Free Fringe.
- 6/23/13: the show was hour 32 of The 44-Hour Improv Marathon.
Media
Videos
- Sample video of Marc Majcher's introduction to the show.
- Video of the 9/15/2012 performance.
- Video of the 9/22/2012 performance.
- Video of the 10/13/2012 performance.
- Video of the 10/20/2012 performance.
- Video of the 10/27/2012 performance.
- Video of the 10/31/2012 performance.
- Video of the one-off "Lovecraft Secrets" show (a mash-up with Austin Secrets at The Free Fringe), from 12/6/12.
- Video of the 4/13/2013 performance at The 2013 Improvised Play Festival.
- Video of the 5/5/2013 performance, which was part of "Nerdprov" at The Institution Theater.
- Video of "Pick Your Own Black Vault" (a mash-up with Pick Your Own Path at The Free Fringe), from 5/23/13.
- Video of the 6/22/13 performance, part of The 44-Hour Improv Marathon.
Photos
- Photoset by Steve Rogers of the 9/8/12 performance.
- Photoset by Roy Moore of the 10/27/12 performance.
More Information
- The show's web page.
- A blog post by Roy Janik about the rehearsal process.
