PROVO — Washington Irving’s 1820 short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has inspired countless adaptations in the two hundred years since its publishing. Secrets of Sleepy Hollow, written by Mahonri Stewart, is an adaptation originally written over two decades ago as a commission for the late Christopher Clark and Utah Valley University. After a trip to the real-life Sleepy Hollow in New York, Stewart was inspired to revisit and revise the adaptation, creating the show now playing at the Hive Collaborative in Provo.
Secrets of Sleepy Hollow contains all of the classic elements of the original story: the lanky and superstitious schoolmaster Ichabod Crane (Joel Ackerman) moves to Sleepy Hollow and is captivated by the hauntingly lovely Katrina Van Tassel (Isabelle Purdie), however the brooding Abraham “Brom Bones” Van Brunt (Drew Brown) is a rival for her affection. Stewart’s adaptation is haunted not only by the iconic Headless Horseman but many other specters from early American folklore. This interweaving of ghost stories, plus many original characters adds twists and thrills to the story that will keep even those familiar with the tale on the edge of their seats.
The Hive Collaborative’s production of SECRETS OF SLEEPY HOLLOW performs through November 2024, with additional Saturday matinees at 2 pm on October 19th and November 2nd.Photo Credit: Emily Pearl Photography
The Hive Collaborative is an incredibly intimate theatre where every seat is a good one. Director Jason Purdie creates a thrilling soundscape coming from all corners of the theatre, giving the audience the feeling that they are surrounded by Sleepy Hollow’s famed ghosts and ghouls. Scenic design by Ken Agle, Davis Agle, and Aria Samia created an appropriately eerie setting, with realistic-looking fall trees and using thin muslin panels to stories through silhouette. Horror can be hard to capture in live theatre, and using these panels was an incredibly effective way to relate the supernatural moments of the play. There were several times I felt a chill up my spine when watching the ghost stories play out. Purdie’s direction, in tandem with the talented cast, very effectively found a balance between the play’s comedic and more sinister moments.
Ackerman perfectly portrays the iconic Ichabod Crane. Ackerman is immediately recognizable as the character, but what helps Ackerman differ from other adaptations is portraying Ichabod’s intense belief in the supernatural and a desire to unravel the town’s secrets. This objective was so clear from the beginning and I wish we could have seen more of Ichabod’s investigations throughout the play. Ackerman’s quirky and authentic Ichabod was incredibly fun to watch and played brilliantly. However, it is sometimes hard to view Ichabod as the protagonist because the script doesn’t seem to allow Ichabod much to do with his investigations and his relationship with Katrina. Things seemed to happen to Ichabod rather than allowing him to actually fight for what he wants.
Ichabod is an unexpected ladies’ man, with jokes frequently asking how such an awkward character can possibly get so much romantic attention. All five women in the show are enamored with Ichabod and show it in a variety of ways: the wonderfully comedic Goosen sisters, played by Alisha Laidlaw and Christina Craven, created many hilarious moments with their German dialects; jealous Katie Kidd, played charmingly by Emma Hurst; Katrina Van Tassel, who in this adaptation seems genuinely torn in her affection between Ichabod and Brom; and Ichabod’s childhood friend, Alice Hudson (played by Darci Ramirez). Alice is an original character in this adaptation, and undoubtedly one of my favorite parts of the play. Highly religious, Alice is skeptical of the town’s superstitions and this creates a conflict in belief with Ichabod, who she is deeply in love with nevertheless. She displayed a large amount of character development, and in some ways, seemed to take the role of the story’s protagonist. Ramirez’s earnestness and Alice’s sweet relationships with Ichabod and little brother Johnny (played charmingly by Keaton Drummond), added a lot of heart to the production.
Brown and Isabelle Purdie as Brom Bones and Katrina respectively supplied a large amount of the show’s conflict, with a number of heated exchanges that left the audience feeling unsettled. The conflict in their relationship eventually pushed the show to its climax, and both performers brought nuance and passion to the roles which allowed the audience to be both invested and concerned for the outcome.
Photo Credit: Emily Pearl Photography
The climax in Act Two was incredibly thrilling because the audience could see so many clues come together in a shocking conclusion. I think this could have been even more satisfying if the clues and exposition in Act One had been more streamlined and the pacing tightened. The events of Act Two were so interesting, it just felt like it took a while to get there.
My favorite parts of the show were undoubtedly the interludes when the characters told about their interactions with Sleepy Hollow’s ghostly residents. The specific stories told might have felt random at first, but they gave the audience the necessary information building to the play’s climax. As I previously mentioned, these stories were primarily told using the silhouette screens, however, not always: some were half and half, and one didn’t use the screens at all. Then there was another moment when the screens weren’t used for a ghost story, but rather a transition. This leads me to the one thing I think this production could have improved: consistency. I wish there had been greater consistency in using the screens for illuminating the supernatural because variations took my attention out of the story. Additionally, there could have been more consistency in the use of dialect. Except for the German Goosens, the inhabitants of Sleepy Hollow had a strange range of very American accents to vaguely British.
Overall, Secrets of Sleepy Hollow is a thrilling production filled with shocking twists and turns perfect for the Halloween season. With a fantastic atmosphere, a talented cast, and an engaging new script, the audience can enjoy the story they know in a unique and unexpected way. Enjoy this Halloween season by investigating the Hive Collaborative’s production of Secrets of Sleepy Hollow.
