Myth and Mystery in ‘All Hallows Eve’

According to Scottish myth, Tam Lin is seeking love and a castle to call his own when he is bewitched by a fairy queen (Corinda Bravo) on All Hallows Eve. She takes him as her consort in her fairy kingdom for 100 years.

At the end of that time, again on All Hallows Eve, the fairy queen will seek a new consort who in turn will kill Tam Lin.

“All Hallows Eve” takes place on the latter night, as Tam Lin (Rich Bianco) prepares to meet his fate and meet a local lass, who brings the possibility of salvation. On a bare black stage with a two-person band (percussion sound designer Brendan Dowds on percussion and Sam Aaron on keyboard) tucked away in the corner, Pendulum Productions brings its version of this legend to the Hudson Mainstage Theatre.

Written and directed by Matthew Smith, this play has its moments of inspired choreography. But ultimately it seems more like a well-told tale for older children--although the relatively tame and fully clothed scenes of a sexual orgy might scare parents away.

A few theatergoers might not like being stared at and crawled around as the cast members make their entrance, slithering over chairs and down the steps, dressed in loose-fitting black pants, T-shirts of muted colors and reddish hoods. But the tone of this piece is more mystical than creepy.

Bravo ignites the stage as the sultry fairy queen, but Jillian Brooke Robinson as Tam Lin’s true love, Jennet, never emerges from Bravo’s shadow.

There’s also an odd mixing of accents with only one character, Sister (Mary Kate Karr) attempting anything resembling the Scottish dialect.

Dowd’s sound design measurably enhances this production, but the movement doesn’t always serve as well. As director, Smith could tighten some scenes.

Because this production was developed in a workshop with the ensemble and most of the cast members double as dance or fight choreographers, a movement coach or some type of designer-coordinator, too many ideas clutter this presentation. Perhaps a more objective eye would help streamline this piece into a sinuous tale about temptation and true love between a young girl and a much, much older man.

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“All Hallows Eve,” Hudson Mainstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Halloween performance, Oct. 31. $20. (323) 856-4200. Running time: 1 hour, 10 minutes.