Mika Knight
Contributing writer
The opening show for the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival was “Mister Gremory’s Caravan of Curiosities,” produced and performed by Dustin Curry, a senior acting and theatre management double major.
The next showings of “Mister Gremory” will be Friday, June 21 and Saturday, June 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Curry describes “Mister Gremory” as more than a magic show. “In this show the story comes first,” he said.
Gremory was created in the hallway of North Hall during Curry’s freshman year in 2011. He and a couple of his fellow honors students were telling ghost stories. “I said wouldn’t it be interesting to tell ghost stories with magic?” said Curry. He already wanted something to present at the Kansas City Fringe Festival, and thus the project of “ Mister Gremory” started.
Curry first performed “Mister Gremory” during his freshman year, and the show grew with the help of a research grant obtained from Dr. Lucretia Scoufos, dean of instruction with help from Dell McLain, the chair of the department of art, communications and theatre.
Curry said that “Mister Gremory” is not a street performer; he is a stage performer who has an “old-war stage attitude” about him.
“Mister Gremory” is known for his stunts, especially the nail up the nose trick, or the “Human Blockhead.” This trick is a little over 100 years old, according to Curry, adding that it took a while to master this stunt. “I started out with a 3-inch nail. That’s all my nerves could handle. I then worked up to the 4-inch nail, which is the max you can go,” said Curry. Curry explained that a nail longer 4 inches might hit some “soft stuff” where the nasal passage meets the throat.
The show includes a plethora of international props, according to Curry. “This show is an international show. I have been ordering [props] from Great Britain, South America and Asia. A lot of the props are for the magic tricks specifically, or they are authentic,” said Curry.
For example, Curry has an authentic shrunken head that is in the lobby where he sets up a table of props for guests to look at.
One prop used in the performance is a Ouija board, and this Ouija board has a story, according to Curry. “It was in car crash. I hydroplaned on my way back from Kansas City and I wrecked my car. Everything flew out, props and posters. I always said that was the most publicity I ever received, but the Ouija board flew out and survived the wreck.” Curry said that several people have warned him to get rid of the Ouija board because it was the only thing that survived the wreck undamaged.
Curry intends for the show to be scary. “The best compliment I ever got was, I quote, ‘Oh My God! I couldn’t sleep last night it gave me nightmares.’”
For tickets, call the box office at 745-2696. Hurry before they vanish.