Halloween Haunt at Wonderland

Weeks before Thanksgiving weekend, I had been anticipating an outrageously fun event formerly called Fear Fest yet currently named Halloween Haunt. My sister and I picked and chose many things: whom to go with, which attractions to attend (for lack of time), etc. However, on the day of, our careful planning got thrown to the wind: our cousins had bailed, we already had purchased our tickets, and we still couldn’t agree on what all to fit into our seemingly short schedule. Very last minute indeed, we each got a friend on board, and geared up for what would be apparently the thrill of our fall 2010 so far. Stopping for only a Starbucks on the way to be our fuel and energy, we made it in record time.

Now, here I was, expecting to get scared out of my wits, and having fun while at it. However, I did not expect myself to be observing the “monsters” (aka dressed up park employees) as they did their thing. So wrapped up I had been in planning this event, it simply hadn’t occurred to me earlier that I could witness and learn from this terrifying yet exhilarating experience. I went on rides as is the regular routine at amusement parks, but I also interacted with the monsters. I closely watched the couple of mimes (they couldn’t talk for their throats had been ripped out) that sat with us during the length of time it took my friend to devour a funnel cake. I engaged them in (one-sided) conversation simply to see how they acted and reacted, their mannerisms and peculiarities. I continued this with the other monsters that were in various haunted houses and/or roaming the grounds.

I was impressed by how well many of them were able to be so convincing. For all of Thanksgiving Day, I could not rid this experience from my mind. They had been so realistic that their freaky façade managed to thoroughly enthrall me. I can definitely say that it was an excellent experience that I both enjoyed and learned from. I also am positive I will be going again, be it once more this month or next year, it doesn’t really matter. I’m simply sure that this experience delighted me as a person and as an actor...

Yours in eternity,

Faye Night