31 Days of Halloween with The Kelly Society Day 2 - Neal Harrington
31 Days of Halloween with
The Kelly Society
Day 2
Hello All. It’s Neal Harrington here. Vivien asked me to do today’s post, so I am. I chose today’s banner photo above for Vivien. She collects vintage Halloween cards, and this is one of her favorites.
Now, I’d like to talk about our preparations for my second annual Halloween party to take place at my house. Last year was the first time I hosted a party on Halloween since my college days, but with Vivien’s enthusiastic encouragement, it happened. Now, I can’t get enough! My eleven-year-old niece Julie and her friends are helping me with all the decorations and visual effects. They did a bang up job last year when our theme was a haunted mansion, so I figured why not team up again? But I must also give credit to my friend George, who refers to himself as a reluctant IT wizard (he wants to be a full-time photographer). He’s on board for the second time to fulfill all our CGI needs.
Our theme this year is…drum roll please…The Legend of Sleepy Hollow! It’s always been one of my favorite Halloween tales.
Our friend Roger, who is tall and lean, has volunteered to portray Ichabod Crane, and mid-way through the party, there may be a very dramatic scene which takes place. I don’t want to give away any spoiler alerts, but hang on to your heads!
The challenge is creating the outdoors inside of a house. So, we decided to keep the forest scene (where Ichabod gets chased by the headless horseman) in the backyard. My redwood deck is off the living room and kitchen windows, but on the left side is a good bit of grass and cypress trees. It’s not quite the rustic, woodsy setting of New York’s Hudson Valley, but it will do. Also, since I am an architect by profession, I shall be constructing the covered bridge where Ichabod rides through on his horse in an attempt to outrun the phantom after him. No, we will not have an actual horse, but Roger took an improv class years ago, and will mime himself riding a horse. Mark, another friend who pulled the short straw to play the headless horseman, will also act out being on a horse to pursue poor Ichabod. Can’t wait to see them running through my covered bridge!
Now for the effects, we shall have the interior and exterior wired for sound, with mini-speakers everywhere. Eerie wind rushing through the trees will keep guests chilled to the bone! Also, on the way to the bathroom down my hallway, a hologram of the headless horseman will gallop toward partygoers with murderous intent!
Well, now I’ve done it! I’ve revealed too much. Julie will have my head (pun intended).
Everyone have a terrific Halloween Season and a frightening Halloween Night! Since being with Vivien and TKS, I’ve adopted not only an expectation for All Hallows Eve, but the entire month of October leading up to that exciting event!
Neal Harrington
for TKS