The theremin is best known as the instrument Brian Wilson used
to make spooky noises in the wall of sound single “Good
Vibrations.” On Halloween in Royce Hall it was one of many
instruments ““ musical and otherwise ““ used to
supplement the already intense words of Edgar Allan Poe.
The intensity of the event hit its peak during the last reading
of the night. Harry Shearer masterfully read “The Pit and the
Pendulum,” his deep voice pushing the audience to the pitch
of madness as the narrator of the story was driven to the brink of
ultimate despair.
The entire “Hal Willner’s Never Bet the Devil Your
Head” show didn’t confine itself to a tone of
frightfulness. There were moments of laughter, awe, gorgeous
androgyny and some good, old-fashioned bewilderment. For anyone
able to stay awake through over three hours of reading and musical
performance, it was a surreal night that satisfied every Halloween
craving, save candy consumption.
The backbone of the evening’s entertainment was the
other-worldly sounds created by the musical ensemble The Johnsons,
of Antony and the Johnsons. With strings, piano, theremin and more,
they crescendoed, played spine-tinglingly low and jazzed it up at
all the right moments. And when Antony came onstage to sing with
them in oddly colored dresses it was painfully stirring.
The night’s biggest comedic moment occurred during Will
Ferrell’s subdued reading of “The Cask of
Amontillado,” as he re-enacted the doomed Fortunado’s
coughing fit, sustaining it until the audience was rumbling with
laughter.
The other light reading was Howard Hessman’s rendition of
the title story. The Johnsons provided a jazzy backbeat, as Hessman
played the beat poet leading the band, cueing them with snaps and a
wickedly dry reading.
The biggest jaw-dropping performer was the legendary Lou Reed.
His rewritten version of “The Raven,” was as dark and
hypnotic on first listen as the original. Reed was also kind enough
to play a couple of old favorites, including “Candy
Says,” (from “Velvet Underground”), as well as
“Perfect Day.”
Instead of ending the night with a Reed reprise after Shearer
finished his reading, as would have seemed sensible, Kembra came
out to sing. Three women wearing only body paint and wings made out
of what looked like some sort of paper came out to perform Celine
Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.” Bewildering, yes,
but somehow disturbingly fitting for a holiday best known for
ghouls and goblins.