Things that go Bump
Enter the parlour of a forgotten age, where the veil between worlds grows thin. If the spirits are willing, your mysterious hostess will share strange phenomena, unsettling revelations, and moments that challenge your senses. The whispers are waiting to charm and chill you. (Tyler Fringe Touring Fund grantee)
This was my first Fringe show for 2026 and it set the bar high. The show is incredibly atmospheric, and seeing it at night made it even more so. The use of music adds another layer, and the way Lisa Krohl interacts with the audience was engaging. Based in historical practice, this show had a unique premise, and its use of props made it even more immersive. Audience participation plays a major role in this, so if that's not your thing, beware.
The audience was on the smaller size for opening night, but I think this would be even better with a larger crowd to feed off of the energy of the performer. Krohl holds her own, and helped make even the shy participants at ease. The smaller venue coupled with the dim lighting made for an intimate show that brings to mind the seances of the late-1800s. Overall, a great, spooky start to Fringe that I would recommend checking out (especially after dark).
Before the show even begins, our hostess, Lisa Krol, makes sure the room is protected by carefully placing a circle of salt around the audience to keep unwanted spirits away. From that moment on, Things That Go Bump creates an atmosphere where it becomes increasingly difficult to tell what is part of the performance and what might be something more, something on the other side of the veil! Even the biggest skeptic, like myself, may find themselves questioning what they just witnessed by the end of the show.
The performance combines storytelling, illusion, and audience interaction to create an experience that feels much more intimate than simply watching from your seat. There is something especially effective about being so close to the action, knowing that at any moment, you might become part of whatever is happening around the table. Lisa has such an amazing way of making the audience feel so immersed in the show that you almost find yourself hoping she'll pick you for one of her volunteers, while still keeping you constantly on your toes.
I won't give away what happens at the table, but Things That Go Bump is the kind of performance that makes you question your own eyes while you're watching it. "You see, but you do not observe", a line that becomes increasingly true as the show unfolds. If you enjoy a little mystery, a little fear, and not knowing exactly how something was done, this is one to check out.