Skyla Nelson

I was really looking forward to this year’s Fear Fables. After seeing the show last year, I hoped the new sci-fi theme and having more time would allow for a big step up. Instead, I was left feeling the same feedback as I did last time, and ultimately I was disappointed.

The set design was honestly one of the coolest parts of the production, and the opening captain was fantastic and a true stand out. That first number pulled me in and got me excited for what was to come. The overall idea of blending horror, drag, and theatre is such a strong concept, and I really wanted to see it soar as a queer horror lover.

But once the host started speaking, it pulled me out of the world. Their first act had presence, but the moment they transitioned into narration, the tone shifted and I found myself disconnected. For a show that leans so much on a narrator to tie it all together, the hosting ended up feeling like a weak link.

A lot of the acts felt repetitive, with similar movements, lots of red lighting, and heavy use of strobes, which made them blend together instead of standing out. At times, the acts also felt unrehearsed and even dangerous, but not in a way that added to the thrill or horror, instead it was distracting and took away from the experience. I also kept waiting for a stronger through line around the “book” that is supposed to anchor the story, but it never really came through. And while the set was gorgeous, it was not used nearly as much as it could have been, which felt like a missed opportunity to fully immerse the audience.

For a production on a theatre stage, the use of space felt surprisingly limited. Performers spent almost all of their time in the front quarter of the stage, leaving the rest of the stage and set underutilized. At times performers moved into the audience, which felt less like an intentional choice and more like they did not know what else to do with the space. It gave the impression of slipping into a bar show format, especially when it resembled the moments where tips would normally be collected, rather than embracing the full theatrical environment available to them.

One thing that really stood out to me in a negative way was when performers stated they had no theatre experience. That did not highlight their craft in a meaningful way, and honestly felt disingenuous since drag itself is theatre and they have even performed at Fringe before. Instead of building connection, this diminished the validity of drag in these spaces, which was disappointing to hear in a show that should celebrate the art form.

Overall, I still appreciate what Fear Fables is trying to do. It has potential, and the artists involved are clearly talented. But right now it feels more like a bar drag show transplanted onto a theatre stage, rather than a production that takes full advantage of the space and storytelling possibilities. I hope they seek out non bias feedback outside of their personal loops, because this idea really does deserve to shine.