Vampyre Rebellion II and Vampyre Extinction by Ted Falagan open and close this year's Halloween collection from The Fault Line Players. Vampyre Rebellion II finds Hollis (Ted Falagan), an ongoing character, in his continuing search to destroy evil. Falagan, the playwright, balances humor and drama cohesively, as usual including a double-double cross, as well as fun and fisticuffs. Vampyre Extinction pits Hollis (yes, back again) against the evil Christophe (John Byrom) and Porsche (Bari Goldman). Additional low lifes, including Rat (Nick Caruso) and Spyder (Kevin Hettinger) are a nice touch. Caruso easily captures the audience with his asides, body language and delivery. Brett Amator, Jocelyn Lee, and Shannon Guimont round out the cast. Amator is new to the stage, while Lee has been seen at Theatrx, Misfit, and Pacific Coast Players. Falagan's ongoing story of those evil bloodsuckers is always good for a few good laughs, several well choreographed knock-down drag-out fights, and, if you read the program notes, an understanding of this history of his vampyres.
Scars, by Cliff Odle and Dewey Yeatts, deals adeptly with the relationship between a psychologist and her patient, a woman often beaten by her husband. Francisca Cordelia George and Angela Geraci, the psychologist and patient, play off each other nicely. Uniquely, the two actresses switch roles from one performance to the next. Kevin Hettinger and Armando O. Soto round out the cast in the twisty, interrogation-room second scene.
Let There Be Light written, directed and costarring Bruce James, is a staged reading of a work very much still in progress. It currently is very slow-paced and too long. On the positive side, the music greatly enhances the production. As usual, Fault Line is a fun experience for those wanting something new.
