DAVID WHITE STUDIO
Shawn K. Jain stars in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” at Mile Square Theatre in Hoboken.
With Halloween just a few weeks away, what could be better than a spooky ghost story? Hoboken’s Mile Square Theatre has a pip in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” which is running through Oct. 20. And it’s a treat for kids, too — a production that will entertain the entire family.
Playwright John Minigan has adapted this classic American tale as a bravura one-man performance piece, with Shawn K. Jain playing not only storyteller Washington Irving but every one of Irving’s characters, as well. By modulating his voice and changing his facial expression, Jain embodies Ichabod Crane, the young girl he’s crushing on, her beau, and a good half dozen other characters as well.
Jain’s manic, rubber-faced performance — he often re-creates a heated conversation by turning his head from side to side to distinguish different characters — showcases both impeccable comedic timing and impressive storytelling skills. It’s funny, yes, but scary in parts, too.
Mile Square Theatre is a small space that specializes in one-set plays, and mounts them well; the staging always impresses. But the production team has outdone itself here, turning the stage into the rustic interior of a tavern from the early 1800s that, with just a few simple props and the audience’s imagination, becomes Crane’s humble apartment, the schoolhouse where he teaches, an old Dutch church, the home of a wealthy patron, and a midnight ride on the moors of Sleepy Hollow. An old wine barrel, a piece of matted cloth and some rope magically transform into a horse.
DAVID WHITE STUDIO
Shawn K. Jain in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
Jain does a magical job of telling the familiar tale, changing into period dress as he introduces the story as Irving. But soon he begins embodying Crane as well as the young maiden Crane’s got his eyes on, her burly suitor, her wealthy father, a schoolroom of noisy boys, a tavern of rowdy men and, most impressively, that harrowing midnight ride when the Headless Horseman comes to wreak havoc and fear.
Kudos to director Devanand Janki for the crisp pacing, along with scenic designer Matthew J. Fick, prop master Emmet Grosland and costume designer Allison Esannason. But what truly makes this production come to life are the sound and light design by Mark Fifer and Emily Clare Gocon, respectively.
From rumbling bolts of lightning to a flickering hearth, the lighting adds nuance and depth to the production, but the real star might just be the sound effects, which — like a radio play — spark the audience’s imagination with the sounds of creaking doors, galloping horses and a crackling fireplace. The cues are flawless, the execution sublime. Every time Crane opens or closes a door, we hear it, and our imagination soars.
Minigan has updated the tale of Sleepy Hollow though — with subtlety, for sure, but unmistakably, nonetheless. The story begins with old men telling stories of the Revolutionary War, until one of them regales the crowd with the legend of the Headless Horseman. We hear the same story again when Crane’s romantic revival tells of his encounter with the apparition.
At the conclusion of the play, again speaking as Irving, Jain delivers the moral of this American fable: Don’t believe everything you hear. At this crucial point in American history, when misinformation abounds and liars seek the highest offices in the land, that message couldn’t be more opportune.
Mile Square Theatre will present “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” through Oct. 20. Visit milesquaretheatre.org.
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