A Spirited Quintet of ‘Ghost Stories’

Heather Dundas’ ghosts aren’t the ones that go bump in the night or ride headless through Sleepy Hollow. In the five vignettes that make up her “Ghost Stories,” the spirits are the more common sort--the ideas and dreams and symbols that haunt everyday life.

In this Wilton Project and Glaxa Studio presentation, director Charlie Stratton takes a minimalist approach that is highly effective for both the “Ghost Stories” and its brief overture, “Hook, Rod and Pipe.”

In “A Bad Voyage Home,” Niffer (Jayne Amelia Larson)--a “seriously white girl” who has left country club “princesshood behind”--is being attended by a doctor (Robert Fieldsteel) and nurse (Deirdre O’Connell) as she meditates on the meaning of her ghostly white skin. “Fishing” explores the motherly fears that repress one woman (Alexandra Hedison) and eventually drive her daughter (Larson) to flee with her more expressive, adventurous aunt (O-Lan Jones).

The wildly funny “Cannibals” details how the responsibilities of motherhood have eaten away at the career dreams and ambitions of a mommy-track lawyer. O’Connell is wonderfully kid-weary in her helpless railing against the tyranny of children. The other two “Stories” are interesting but not quite as memorable.

Leading off the bill, Dundas collaborated with performer John Michael Morgan and composer David Rodwin for the quaintly charming, Garrison Keillor-esque fish tale, “Hook, Rod and Pipe.” Morgan has a folksy voice that works well with his three-woman backup who provide sound effects and properly fishy expressions. Sandra Purpuro is by far the funniest fish-woman. Stratton’s staging, including inoffensive cleavage-baring posturing, gives a pseudo-sexual slant to men and fishing.

BE THERE

“Ghost Stories,” Glaxa Studios, 3707 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake. Fridays-Sundays, 8 p.m. Ends Aug. 17. $12. (213) 931-6599. Running time: 1 hour, 45 minutes.