‘claws’ Connects You With A Friend in Need (Review)

Somehow this is the first Candle House Collective show that I’ve done. Their reputation as creators of intriguing, thoughtful, and emotional work precedes them, of course. So when a new series of theirs spun up, I jumped at the chance to take part. claws is part of their newest series of remote experiences, help!, where participants take on the role of a representative for the “Etcetera Helpline.” Much as the title of the series suggests, you’re there to help whoever calls in.

For claws, you’ll be talking to a 16-year old boy named Danny. Danny needs help with the monster in his closet. You’ll learn that much when you buy a ticket. To actually talk about the show, we have to get into spoilery territory, insomuch as the premise of the show is a spoiler. This information comes at the top of the show, but if you want to go in knowing nothing, I recommend you come back after you’ve had a chance to help Danny out.

Last chance to turn back!

(Additional spoilers follow.)

The wrinkle here is that the monster looks and sounds exactly like Danny. And it could be in the closet…or it could be on the phone with you. You don’t have any way to know who you’re talking to. It’s a perfect little Twilight Zone scenario, and the show plays out like an episode of the show in miniature. Danny says he has trapped the creature in his closet; his dad doesn’t believe him; he doesn’t think he can go to the police because they won’t believe him; and he doesn’t know what to do. That’s how you end up on the line with him trying to come up with a solution to Danny’s monster problem.

claws runs about 25–35 minutes. The tight script from Evan Neiden, directed by John Ertman, keeps it moving along the whole time as you learn more about Danny and how the monster ended up in the closet. It’s mostly Danny talking to you without many moments of interactivity. However, be aware, that when the call does allow you to interact, what you say and do really matters. And that’s because the core of this piece is about whether you trust what Danny is telling you.

If that’s the core of the claws, it puts much of the weight on Vincent D’Avanzo, who plays Danny. D’Avanzo makes the surreal scenario believable and, at the same time, creates empathy for the scared, confused, and occasionally-a-jerk-to-his-dad-but-trying-to-do-better, 16-year old kid. Those snippets of family drama, set against the backdrop of COVID-19, balance out the more supernatural aspects and make the scenario feel more real.

How claws ends appears to be up to the participant, based on the advice they give to Danny. I can’t say for certain how many endings there are, but mine maintained the vibe from the rest of the show: dark, creepy, and fun.

All of the shows in the help! series look to be one-off, shorter shows like claws, and have the additional benefit of being remote by their very nature. So whether you’re new to Candle House or a veteran of their experiences, now is a great time to join the Etcetera Helpline.

claws is currently sold out. Tickets for the help! series are available here; additional experiences will be announced soon.

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