Live and in person at the Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen St. East, Toronto, Ont. Produced by Eldritch Theatre. Playing until Feb. 9, 2025
Created and performed by Eric Woolfe
Creepy musician played by Kathleen Welch
Directed by Mairi Babb
Music by Marc Dowing
Puppets created by Eric Woolfe and Dawn Weaver.
This is the 25th anniversary production of The Strange and Eerie Memoirs of Billy Wuthergloom. May it have another 25 years of playing.
Billy Wuthergloom began imagining monsters under his bed when he was eight years old. He could not tell anyone for fear they will think he was a sissy or childish or other horrible names. Billy is an awkward kid who just wanted to fit in and be liked by the popular kids and not get beat up. He did confide in Hershkel Fishmacher because Hershkel Fishmacher was even odder and more awkward than Billy. More than anybody, the bullies picked on Hershkel and Billy defended him against them. Because of this, the two boys shared a special bond of friendship.
The Strange and Eerie Memoirs of Billy Wuthergloom has all the hallmarks of an Eric Woolfe theatre extravaganza. There are weird but appropriate looking puppets representing the various characters. Hershkel is suggested by an angular, solid head and slim body. Others are created in the similar way—large head and dangly body. Billy is wide-eyed and either terrified at his world or fascinated. They are all manipulated, described and vocalized by Eric Woolfe who wears a large baseball cap sideways, a t-shirt and baggy jeans with a patch of a skull over one knee. Eric Woolfe is flexible and nimbly moves around the stage. His delivery is always serious. That’s how to tell the jokes—seriously.
Eric Woolfe writes with acrobatic dexterity. His language is vaulting and vivid. And the story here is truly horrifying. Never mind the imagined monsters under Billy’s bed. Billy Wuthergloom’s body is possessed with something terrible and undefeatable: puberty. This will be followed by sexual urges; dreams that keep his sheets and jammies gooey; emotional confusion; questions of how to deal with girls. Billy is growing up and he doesn’t know how to handle it. A true horror story of the ordinary passages of a life.
Eric Woolfe is ably supported in both tone and music by Kathleen Welch, described in the programme as “Creepy Musician.” She is dressed in black. She wears a black top hat of sorts with long curly locks of red hair that flow out of the hat and frames her stark white-makeup covered 00000000
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..face. She stares compellingly at everything and she plays creepy music. She is a perfect support to Eric Woolfe.
As always, the imagination of the story, the artistry of the puppets and the efficient presentation is impressive in an Eric Woolfe creation. But what is most touching about The Strange and Eerie Memoirs of Billy Wuthergloom is Billy’s integrity, his conscience and his loyalty to Hershkel. Billy is a character who knows right from wrong and chooses the harder path when he defends and sticks with Hershkel. Billy does want to be accepted by the popular boys who bedevil Hershkel and him, but he knows their behaviour is wrong. I loved the dilemma for Billy and how he solved it. In this day and age of people with a dearth of character, ethics, and integrity, Billy Wuthergloom is a breath of fresh air.
Eldritch Theatre Presents:
Playing until Feb. 9, 2025.
Running time: 1 hour, 45 minutes (no intermission).