Ghost Stories
at Irvine

Reviewed on April 22, 2016

Michelle Meledy
Capistrano Valley
Submitted for publication to OC Register

A Ghoulish delight at Irvine

It is night, and the moon shines on the tombstones of the Irvine cemetery. As the fog lifts, two friendly ghosts appear to lead the audience through the secrets of the cemetery. This great setting is the start of the hilarious and original comedy, "Ghost Stories," written by Mikey Day.

The friendly ghosts are called Jane and John, played by Zena Khesbak and Colin Rinard. The ghosts are a couple, who unfortunately, meet their ends at a theatrical production of Spider-man. The story that comes along with their tragic end is a perfect blend of black humor and a budding romance that abruptly ends. Khesbak and Rinard deliver this with great comedic timing and emotional impact. The actors continue to carry this great dynamic throughout the entire show.

Another hilarious relationship is between Elizabeth and Chester, played by J.J. Riddle and Nicholas Eristavi. Chester is a Union soldier in the Civil War and during that period he corresponds with letters to his wife, Elizabeth. As the letters continue, it begins to get more humorous as Doug, played by Vincent Sandoval, seems to catch Elizabeth's eye. Eristavi's reaction to the letters is hysterical, showing his misguided ideas of a potential affair.

A creepy element to the show is the Tombley Twins, played by Grace Simmons and Rylee Terry. The pair speak in perfect unison and move as one. When the twins speak, it is always monotone, adding a disturbing element to their characters. The girls also break the fourth wall to interact with various audience members and to sneak up behind them.

The costumes, designed by Colin Rinard are exquisite. He creates beautiful and relevant costumes for each character that both reflect their personality and death. For example, in the story of the Civil War, the dress and the Union uniforms are period accurate, to each button on the Union uniform and the hoop skirt.

The set, designed by Eben Campas and Isabella Dearauijo, is fun and inventive. It has several different levels that include a higher platform with a scrim dividing the memory from the graveyard. This serves well to clearly separate the two settings and looks good to the eye. The projection of the moon, designed Michael Menjivar also adds the element of night and setting.

"Ghost Stories" at Irvine is a fun and inventive show that gives a taste of dark humor but also has heart.

Mitra Alikhani
St. Margaret's Episcopal
Submitted for publication to OC Register

Ghost Stories at Irvine is hilariously haunting

A broken neck at a Justin Beiber concert, forks impaled in a head, and a gorilla mauling at the San Diego Zoo all have one thing in common— they are the stories of how the ghosts in Irvine High School's production of "Ghost Stories" were killed. As the ghoulish figures wander through the graveyard, they recount their morbidly comical deaths, and even though they may be dead, still seem to have a spice for life.

The graveyard tour is led by Jane (Zena Khesbak) and John (Colin Rinard), a couple whose relationship was cut short by a technical mishap at Spiderman the Musical. Khesbak and Rinard weave their jokes and jaunts together seamlessly, with perfect timing, always showing faces of disgust, horror and humor at each ghost's story. Khesbak and Rinard welcome the audience on the journey, and are quite gracious, albeit dead, hosts.

Probably most frightening and disturbing are the Tombley Twins, played by Grace Simmons and Rylee Terry, who skillfully speak in complete unison and always seem to have a dead animal with them. Simmons and Terry are perfectly synchronized and always have some comical element to add to their eerie and emotionless characters. Especially frightening is their audience interaction, as they wander through the theater asking for someone to play with as people recoil in fear.

Zoya Ansari plays Scary Sarah, a sassy and peevish poltergeist, who takes glee in haunting people. Whether she is torturing the graveyard security guard, or stealing the Tombley Twins' dead cat, Ansari is mysterious and hilarious, taking absolute pleasure in tormenting people.

Also artfully done are the costumes, designed by Colin Rinard and Julia Brophy, which express each character's personality and accurately depict what they would have been wearing when they died. All of the designs were also time period appropriate, with large Civil War Era dresses and hip 1980s fanny packs. Another interesting costume addition was the matching of ghosts who are associated with each other, such as John and Jane, who both wore red and black.

Irvine High School's production of "Ghost Stories" is a lesson that love is a part of life— as well as a part of the afterlife.

Hilary Lee
Northwood
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

Irvine entertains with "Ghost Stories"

As fog hisses from the left, voices boom and cackle with jarring flashes of neon green and purple – and then it stops. From the darkness, emerges a neatly trimmed graveyard with tombstones scattered about. And of course, a few ghosts.

Overflowing with humorous references and the execution of a talented cast, Irvine High's production of "Ghost Stories" unravels the narratives of ghosts residing in a graveyard about to be replaced by a Taco Bell, as each reveal details of their untimely death.

Serving as the host of the night, Zena Khesbak as Jane oozes with charm and friendliness, flashing dazzling smiles at the audience as she and her husband, John (Colin Rinard), welcome each guest. However, Khesbak shows the limit to Jane's warm attitude as she mutters snide remarks at Courtnee's (Megan Brown) obsession with Justin Bieber from the back.

Matching Jane's snarkiness, Zoya Ansari plays Scary Sarah, a mischievous teenager who scampers around berating the graveyard security guard, Marty (Patrick Murphy). Her immaturity is obvious with her tendency to ask for fist bumps after chortling at Marty's misery.

Portraying a couple in the 1950's, Maya Brembilla and Nick Kessler as Pam and Nick argue over the real cause of their deaths. Brembilla as Pam constantly shrieks at her husband, storming off at his every word. The way she looks back despite asking him not to follow her communicates her desire for her husband to reciprocate her love. On the contrary, Kessler's exasperated voice and calm demeanor offers a balance to his wife's rage. When Pam refuses his flowers, Nick's worry shifts to desperation as he later dances to cheesy songs, giving his all for his wife.

Costumes by Colin Rinard and Juia Brophy clearly distinguish each ghost to their respective time period. In particular, a Civil War soldier's outfit consisted of silvery buttons on navy fabric and was of extreme detail.

Elaborate set design by Isabella Dearaujo, Eben Campus, and Evan Shen included a raised black platform in the back, allowing characters to transition between different locations and times. For Francisco (Aldo Rios), his transition from Las Vegas to his new wife's home keeps the continuity of his story.

Filled to the brim with a comedic cast of dysfunctional ghosts, Irvine High's portrayal of this original play brings laughter to the graveyard.