3 Theaters Delight In Deathly Doings

Mystery and murder are afoot in the Tampa Bay area theater scene this Halloween season.

Jobsite Theater, Gorilla Theatre and American Stage Theatre

Company will dally with death in three spine-tingling plays: 'Gorey Stories,' 'Jane Eyre' and 'Sleuth,' respectively.

Whether you prefer the macabre, gothic horror or clever whodunits, the following productions will satisfy theatergoers long after eating the last mini Snickers bar.

'Gorey Stories,' adapted by Stephen Currens

Jobsite Theater continues its tradition of opening the fall season with a spooky stage production. 'Gorey Stories' combines 18 stories, poems and limericks by Edward Gorey, who is probably best known for his animated illustrations at the beginning of 'Mystery!' on PBS.

The show begins with a parlor party. As the play unfolds in a series of quick vignettes, each guest at the party assumes the identity of a character from Gorey's world. The stories cover a broad range of interpretations, from melodramatic to scary to silly. A three-piece orchestra (Jobsite's first show with live music) will accompany the performances.

David M. Jenkins, the show's director and Jobsite's producing artistic director, expects audience members will find themselves laughing at some scenes, only to realize later the strange and shocking undercurrents.

'A lot of Gorey's stories deal with tragedies and horrors for kids, but he always wrote them with an element of humor. People will see a fun, deliciously dark production,' he says.

ON STAGE

Gorey Stories

WHEN: Thursday through Nov. 4; 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 20 is sold out)

WHERE: Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Shimberg Playhouse, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa

TICKETS: $24.50; (813) 222-1001; www.tbpac.org

Jane Eyre

WHEN: Oct. 25 to Nov. 11; 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Gorilla Theatre, 4419 N. Hubert Ave., Tampa

TICKETS: $15 to $25, depending on date of performance; (813) 879-2914, www.gorillatheatre.com

Sleuth

WHEN: Oct. 31 to Nov. 25; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: American Stage Theatre Company, 211 Third St. S., St. Petersburg

TICKETS: $22 to $35, depending on date and time of performance; (727) 823-7529, www.americanstage.org