Beatnik Entertainment presents
Fantome: An Evening of Ghosts and Gore
two one-act plays with a Grand Guignol touch
directed by Laura Mazzuca-Toops

Grand Guignol comes to Northwest Indiana on Labor Day Weekend when Beatniks on Conkey presents “Fantome: An Evening of Ghosts and Gore,” two one-act plays that center on the macabre and the supernatural.
The first play, “Chop-Chop! Or, The Guillotine,” was written in 1906 by Eugene Heros and Leon Abric. The second, “Crossing Over,” is a murder mystery and spoof of paranormal reality shows written by local actor and writer Laura Mazzuca Toops, who is directing both plays.
Grand Guignol was the French “theatre of horror” popularized in Paris during the turn of the 20th century, characterized by plots centering on the bizarre and macabre, and frequently featuring gory special effects. But Beatniks audiences are in store for more laughs than horror, Toops says.
“Although our first play is an actual Grand Guignol period script – and stars a guillotine -- there’s no blood and gore,” Toops says. “’Chop-Chop’ is more of a fin de siècle French sex farce, with a surprisingly kinky subtext that lends it a truly modern feel.”
The second play, “Crossing Over,” is a contemporary comedy featuring a team of zany paranormal researchers trying to one-up each other and solve a 100-year-old murder – totally unaware of the ghosts themselves, who are are right in their midst.
“Fantome” features a talented cast of local actors from Hammond, Griffith, Highland, Munster, Whiting, Schererville, Lansing, and Miller Beach – many of whom are familiar faces to Beatniks audiences.
“Since the actors are playing dual roles in two very different plays, they’ve got to be very versatile – and they truly rise to the occasion,” Toops says. “I’m especially impressed with the talent and dedication of our teenage actors, who bring an impressive maturity to several very multi-faceted characters.”

Performance dates

Friday and Saturday, September 3 & 4, 7:30 pm
Sunday, September 5, 2:00 pm

Performances are at
Beatniks on Conkey
420 Conkey Street
Hammond

Doors open 1/2 hour before curtain

Tickets are $15.00

All Covid-19 recommendations and precautions will be followed.

Due to limited seating, reservations are strongly suggested.

For more info contact Beatniks on Conkey directly by calling 219-852-0848.