'Legend of Sleepy Hollow' casts a Halloween spell

A waning Hunter’s Moon and a sky full of stars loomed over Fred B. Cranford Amphitheatre in Valdese on a recent October evening. The dense woods surrounding the venue were dark and quiet, punctuated only by the sounds of crickets and an occasional dog barking in the distance.

Suddenly, the unmistakable sound of hoofbeats and rustling of tree branches pierced the night. Then, at the edge of the forest, a glint of metal gleamed in the moonlight. It was an ax — a large, sharp ax — and as the fierce weapon came into view, a chilling terror set in for the small group gathered to watch a final rehearsal of the Old Colony Players’ version of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

The headless horseman, seated astride a large steed, his stump of a neck clearly visible in the dimly lit arena, was on the prowl. And at that moment, the horse broke into a gallop, crossing the open-air theater’s earthen stage, as the decapitated rider swung the ax to and fro, seeking his next victim.

The latest offering from the Valdese theater troupe is a delicious Halloween treat for locals. Long-time OCP alum Ken Davis created an adaptation of author Washington Irving’s classic tale of a character known as the Headless Horseman, a Hessian soldier who was decapitated by a cannonball in battle. He terrorizes residents in the sleepy village of Tarrytown, N.Y., as he searches for his missing head.

In Davis’ version, which he also directs, the horseman is a much more malevolent character, chasing down and murdering several people, then parading their decapitated heads for all to see. It’s the stuff of nightmares. But after all, it is late October, the perfect time for all things horrible.

Davis expands Irving’s original plot to include the Salem, Mass., witch trials of the late 1600s as well as the infamous Revolutionary War traitor Benedict Arnold.

The cast does an excellent job of conveying the playwright’s vision to the audience. Every actor knows his lines and delivers them flawlessly. There is no opportunity during the two-hour production for audience members to get bored because the story moves at an energetic and engaging pace.

CJ Walker gives a superb performance in the lead role of Ichabod Crane. Walker is convincing as the nervous “interloper,” determined to get to the bottom of the mysterious deaths occurring in Tarrytown. His dogged determination to uncover the villagers’ secrets makes him both a hero and a subject of contempt among the locals.

Walker’s flair for the dramatic is particularly effective, as the audience witnesses Crane’s struggles with separating truth from fantasy.

Samantha Morgan is a scene-stealer as the flirtatious and alluring Katrina Von Tassel. The show’s costumer, Bonnie Holcombe, has done a stellar job, especially with Morgan’s beautiful gowns, all featuring blood-red materials, a color particularly appropriate for this show. Katrina’s flowing red hair shines under the amphitheater’s muted lighting, and her confident dialogue delivery is perfect.

Dalton Brooks also stands out as Abraham “Brom Bones” Van Brunt, an impractical joker and Crane’s rival for the affections of the tempestuous Katrina. Davis’ adaptation does a nice job of developing this role, allowing audience members to develop a sense of empathy for an often-scorned character.

While the entire cast deserves kudos for a wonderful production, the character who steals the night (and several heads) is the Headless Horseman. The role is played by two performers, Thomas “Colt” Taylor, who portrays the Horseman when he is “grounded,” and Hannah Parker, whose excellent horsemanship is on display when the character rides.

Taylor’s scenes are terrifying as he brandishes the ax in several fight scenes. Though headless, he still towers over the other characters, and when he strides across the stage, decapitated head in hand, members of the audience may find themselves huddling closer to their neighbors.

Parker and her horse, Major, are nothing short of amazing. The duo navigates the woods surrounding the amphitheater in almost total darkness, then appears from the tree line at just the right moment to provide a scare for theatergoers. Major has the makings of a bonafide star.

The Old Colony Players have produced a winner in this terrifying, timely show. Audience members who crave a spine-tingling, chill-creating, nightmare-inducing evening at the theater should make plans to catch “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” before this gem closes Nov. 2.

The show will wrap up its opening weekend tonight, then will hit the stage again on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1-2. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at oldcolonyplayers.ticketspice.com/the-legend-of-sleepy-hollow. Tickets range in price from $12-18. Call 828-522-1150 for more information.

The show is staged in the Fred B. Cranford Amphitheatre at 401 Church St. NW, in Valdese.

Please note: The show is excellent, but intense and at points, downright scary. The subject matter (including witchcraft and demonic references), lighting, sound effects, and some dialogue are not suitable for younger audiences. Parents should use discretion when considering bringing children to this play.