Review by James Wilkinson

‘King of Shadows’ – Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Directed by Michael Hisamoto. Scenic design: Ryan Bates. Costume Design: Erica Desautels. Props Design: Emily Penta. Lighting Design: PJ Strachman. Sound Design: Bram Xu. Puppetry Consultant: Libby Schap. Presented by Flat Earth Theatre at the Black Box at the Mosesian Center for the Arts through June 22

The titular character from Flat Earth Theatre’s new production, The King of Shadows, never makes an onstage appearance. At least, not a flesh and blood one. In Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s play, he makes his presence and the presence of his companion, the Green Lady, felt in other, much more nefarious ways. Characters are left peeking over their shoulder, looking out of the corner of their eye, speaking about him in hushed tones. They’re aware that something is coming, something bad, but never quite able to put their finger on what’s happening.  He acts as a kind of distant cousin to the Slender Man, a dark figure who kidnaps children and takes them away to another world, (Slender Man having his own origins in the story of the Pied Piper and about half a dozen other mythical child-snatching creatures). He’s like the weather, uncontrollable and unstoppable. Flat Earth’s production goes to great lengths to try to make you as afraid of the King of Shadows as the characters and I’m sorry to report back that I never got anywhere close. Despite some valiant efforts by the cast to sell the story on the page, there just isn’t enough here for the production to lift off.

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