Summary:

This event consisted of several simple, sparsely detailed scenes, which were separated by twisting lengths of dark hallways. Many of the scenes weren't overly elaborate; however, there were a few that were pretty creative.  In one area of the house, you looked into a black box that was filled with hanging body parts.  Just when you thought nothing was going to happen, an actor popped out to surprise you.   Another scene consisted of a dark room with several glowing hockey masks, which appeared to float in mid-air.  As you walked by, one of them came to life and leaped out at you.  I also liked the Christmas scene.   When the lights on the Christmas tree flashed on, an evil Santa jumped up out of his chair to startle you.  

All of the scenes were located behind wooden railings, which I am not a big fan of.  Some of the scares would have probably been more effective without the railings to provide a sense of separation and security to the patrons.       

As for actors, they were pretty well staffed.  A lot of the actors had similar costumes;  most wore black robes and a mask.  They really took advantage of some good hiding places in the dark hallways to get their scares.  They effectively used the cover of darkness to hide in corners and take patrons by surprise.   All of the actors seemed to know their roles well and followed through; however there were a couple of times when they didn't stay in character.  

Overall, I would say the St. Charles Jaycees did a great job.  Everything seemed to be very organized, especially for an opening night.   Because this event wasn't overly intense, it would be appropriate for most audiences.     

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