Something Monstrous Is Coming to West River

On Halloween night, someone is going to get shoved into a machine at West River Comedy Club. There will be experiments, electricity, suspicious amounts of pumpkin, and a rabbit whose prospects aren’t looking particularly good.

It’s all part of Dr. Ette’s Theatre of Monstrous Delights, a silent horror-comedy burlesque production coming to downtown Rapid City on Saturday, October 31. Directed by Marion Ette, the show combines burlesque, physical comedy, music and old-fashioned silent-film storytelling into one theatrical production, complete with a mad scientist and her collection of monstrous creations.

A Different Kind of Burlesque Show

Marion Ette has been looking for ways to bring more theatrical storytelling into her burlesque productions. Rather than presenting a traditional series of individual acts, she wanted to create a show where each performance contributes to a larger story.

“I’ve been wanting to play more with burlesque as actual theatre, where the performances aren’t just happening one after another, they’re moving a story forward,” she explained.

Her love of classic monster movies, silent films, physical comedy and unusual props helped shape the character of Dr. Ette and her peculiar laboratory.

“Instead of introducing an act, watching it, and moving on, everything happens inside the same little world. One thing leads to the next, and by the end it all feels like one complete show instead of a lineup.”

The production takes its inspiration from early silent cinema. Performers tell the story through movement and physical comedy while projected title cards provide dialogue, narration and the occasional punchline.

“There’s music, props, visual gags, experiments, monsters, people getting shoved into machinery, all the important scientific stuff,” Ette said.

The title cards also create opportunities for the audience to get ahead of the characters. Viewers might receive a set of very specific instructions, only to watch Dr. Ette promptly ignore them.

Meet the Monstrous Creations

Eight performers make up the cast of Monstrous Delights: Allie Kay, Lupa Rossa, Scarlett Misfit, Tia Tiara, Fevah Dream, Mora Rapture, Vesper Nyx and Marion Ette.

Each becomes part of Dr. Ette’s collection of strange creations, although their transformations are being kept under wraps.

Ette did offer a few clues.

“As far as the monsters go, I can tell you there will be hair, bugs, scales, electricity, a deeply upsetting amount of pumpkin, and at least one situation involving a rabbit that does not end well.”

She isn’t revealing which performer becomes which creature.

Much of the laboratory is being constructed by hand for the Halloween performance. Ette has been making monsters, costumes, props and assorted experimental equipment to bring her strange little world to life.

“I think one of my favorite things about this show is how much of it I’m physically making for one night,” she said. “The monsters, props, costumes, experiments, all the weird little pieces that make the lab feel like an actual place.”

The creations aren’t limited to the stage, either. Every audience member will receive a miniature monster to take home.

“Basically, I’ve been making spooky miniature monsters out of whatever I can hot glue together and then adding monster eyeballs until they look alive enough,” Ette explained.

“Every guest gets one to take home, so technically I’m also helping populate Rapid City with tiny monsters.”

The Monsters Escape Downtown

The story doesn’t necessarily end with the curtain call.

Following the performance, Dr. Ette and her creations will leave West River Comedy Club and make their way through downtown Rapid City, inviting audience members to join a mock monster-chasing mob headed for the HalloQueen Dance Party at The Rushmore.

“The show keeps going after we leave the stage,” Ette said. “It’s basically a ridiculous little Halloween procession connecting the two events.”

The procession is optional, and tickets to HalloQueen are sold separately. Those who want to continue their Halloween night can follow the monsters to The Rushmore, while others can call it an evening after the performance.

Either way, audience members will have their own miniature laboratory creations to take home. Whether those creatures remain safely contained is another matter.