10/24/03

"These are unknown creatures," declaimed the astronomer, as they were wont to do in sci-fi movies of the '50s. "They come from an unknown galaxy by unknown means and have arrived on Earth for unknown purposes -- most likely evil . . ."

"Gosh, with all those unknowns," says the sheriff -- who, it goes almost without saying, is a bumbler of the first water -- "how do you guys know so much about 'em?"

"Because," said the astronomer "we're scientists."

That scene actually happened in a recent Brody Theater performance of "Scary Movie," its fifth annual Halloween show. But the scientist part is applicable in the sense of "specialist" -- and these guys know and love vintage horror and sci-fi flicks like a chemist might cherish his favorite Erlenmeyer flask.

The eight actors improvised one of each (horror and sci-fi movies, not flasks) during the hour-and-a-half performance. As in the best improv, the "fourth wall" was not just breached -- they stomped that sucker flat. This is not the sort of entertainment where we're expected to pipe down and munch our Good 'n' Plentys: audience enthusiasm keeps the improv boiling.

The space is a properly quirky one, in the basement of the Bullring Restaurant. Vintage movie posters -- "The Wax Museum," "Frankenstein," "Invasion of the Saucer-Men" -- hang in the lobby, and paint-can klieg lights hang over the minimalist stage. Black-painted walls are punctuated with access curtains for the players. The tiers of seats feel comfortably full with a couple of dozen people in them. It adds up to a blessed anodyne to modern corporate entertainment.

The actors asked for a couple of audience suggestions before each segment.

"What are animals you'd find in a basement?"

"Rats!"

"Mice!"

Hence "The Creeping Doom" featured creepy Uncle William ("don't you ever blink?") breeding huge mice and spiders in his -- need it even be said? -- evil basement laboratory. It was all there: Innocence Playing Unawares, the two brothers Driving Somewhere at Night, the Confrontation in the Laboratory . . . all backed by a suitable soundtrack.

The sci-fi flick was "Lavender Invasion." Like the horror movie, it paid homage to the hallowed conventions of the genre, such as: "scientists know more than anybody," "you just can't find good sheriffs anymore," "did you really expect anyone to believe that story?" and "when the going gets tough, the tough grab flame-throwers."

At the end, the astronomer once more declaimed under a starry sky: "We beat them this time, but we must remain vigilant -- we must keep watching."

A painless prescription, given this troupe.

"Scary Movie": 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays through Nov. 1; $12. Plus additional late shows: 10:30 p.m. Oct. 31 and Nov. 1; $9. Brody Theater, 1904 N.W. 27th Ave., 503-224-0688 for reservations. -- John Foyston