There will definitely be blood.
A group of horror story savants is bringing a carnage-crammed series of live shows to the Brick Theater in Williamsburg, and it is no spectacle for the easily spooked.
“We are doing some stabbings, a bashing over the head, and some strangulation,” said co-director Pete Boisvert, “There is a fair amount of effects and gore.”
“Bedlam Nightmares — Part One: Strapped In,” the first of three episodic installments in the series, follows two men known as the Blood Brothers who are trapped in an institution for the criminally deranged. Together, they devour the fright-laden tales of their fellow inmates — which, not surprisingly, feature a whole lot of the red stuff.
“You can get splattered with blood if you are in the first few rows,” said Boisvert, whose Nosedive Productions company has been putting “Blood Brothers” shows on since 2006. “People can get scared, but I think they are coming for a shock.”
The show boasts a short play called “Into the Life of Things” by Nat Cassidy, which examines the weird past of a dead female inmate who was involved in an isolated yoga cult, as well as two vignettes by Mac Roger about other disturbed patients.
The entire performance is modeled after Grand Guignol, a 19th century Parisian theater style featuring back-to-back sex farce and effects-based horror pieces — as well as on-call doctors for the faint-hearted audience members.
This modern take on the genre will be littered with gory surprises, including a psychotic young gentleman who rips his own eyelid off after making a promise to his cell-mate to stay up all night.
“I am interested to see what people think of that,” effects head Stephanie Williams said. “This really has more blood bag-based effects, and we are also looking to do a little more on the makeup side of things.”
“Strapped In” is only the first of three episodes in the latest Blood Brothers anthology, which will culminate in a large-scale performance of the entire asylum saga in October.
No medical professionals will be on-call for the show, but Boisvert said the audiences are typically comprised of horror buffs with sturdy nerves and strong constitutions.
“They know what they are coming for,” he said.
“Bedlam Nightmares — Part One: Strapped In” at the Brick Theater [579 Metropolitan Ave. near Lorimer Street in Williamsburg, (718) 285–3863, www.bricktheater.com]. Feb. 27 at 9 pm, Feb. 28 at 9 pm and 11 pm, and Mar. 1 at 9 pm and 11 pm. $15 for 9 pm shows, $12 for 11 pm shows.
