One of the signature elements of Knott’s Scary Farm are the live stage shows that give guests a break from the scares.  Ever since the first haunt, when Seymour stood in the John Wayne Theatre, making fun of old horror films, visitors have been entertained, made to laugh, scream and escape.  This year we have two stage shows, both very similar in tone; irreverent, pop-culture showcases that aim right for the funny bone.

This article focuses on what there is to watch at haunt when you aren’t screaming in one of the 9 mazes, riding through the all-new, My Bloody Clementine Mine Ride attraction, or running for your life through one of the 4 scare zones.

To see our review of the mazes and haunted attractions offered at Knott’s Scary Farm, Click Here.

The Hanging®

The Hanging has been a mainstay at Knott’s Scary Farm since the beginning.  Although its tone was far more serious back in the day it is now a yuk-fest, referencing what scares us all in pop culture today. this year’s The Hanging: Straight Outta Calico is a solid entry into the history of the more comedic stagings in the square with more hits than misses in the joke department.

The show begins with a group of hackers giving control to the audience.  In a first for The Hanging, guests are given the chance to write their own jokes into the show by texting them to a special number provided.  Next the show jumps right into the action with a big, bawdy musical number to the tune of Uptown Funk.

The jokes fly at a rapid pace in the opening number and then the story is set up.  The Billionaire Koch (pronounced cock for this show) are the new sponsors for the hanging and are bent pushing their own propaganda.  Meanwhile the Hangman is simply trying to hang the one person responsible for the evil over the past year.

A Disneyland joke that hits both Paint the Night AND the measles outbreak. Priceless.

One of the big misses was the offensive Tranny-Saurus Rex joke.

With this much going on it is impossible to bat 1,000 on the joke-o-meter.  Thankfully, as we stated, everything is moving at light speed.  If one joke doesn’t do it for you, there’s another one right on its heels to cleanse your palette.

Not even the Minions were spared.

Banana?

Shia LeBouf just doing the take.

We loved seeing a new soul to the hangman in the form of a strong woman.  This character was tough and as witty as she, going toe-to-toe with him throughout the show and kicking ass along the way.

BB-8 and Tom Brady share a moment.

Before Tom decides to deflate him too.

Why a Lion King reference? Who knows?

Of course, the Koch Brothers don’t like how things go and threaten to blow everything up. Spoiler Alert: He doesn’t succeed.

While Bill Cosby was certainly a candidate for hanging this year with his drug rape antics…

It was Arinana Grande with her donut-licking, “I Hate Americans” declarations.

All of this is done in good fun.  In the end, it is about laughing at the past year, having thankfully survived it. The show downplays the titular hanging by ending on a big high note musical number.

Far better than last year’s show, this one ranks as better than average in the history of hangings at Knott’s Scary Farm.  There were more jokes that worked than not.  The inclusion of the audience, texting jokes for use in the show was a brilliant idea and one that we hope sticks around.  The concept gave the show a more unpredictable feel, improvisational and fresh.

Check out the Hanging this year.  It’s worth the time in exchange for the laughs.  Magic Miguel isn’t hard on the eyes either.

Elvira’s Asylum

We enter the cavernous Ghoul-Time Theatre to a larger than life set.  A gigantic, insane asylum, comically eerie, with a large video screen “Window” center stage.  As the lights dim for show time a video plays depicting videos of patient therapy sessions.  Each are comedically disturbing, culminating in patients breaking loose and busting into the theatre itself.

The inmates are running amok, the dance music starts, and the hi-jinks begin.  This year Knott’s chose to pull from the Hollywood talent pool for the dancers in this show and the change is hardly noticeable. While not portrayed as one force, as Academy of Villains were, these dancers bring a fresh individuality to the numbers.  They are good, very good.

Elvira makes her entrance to a crap-ton of pyro and fanfare and the real show begins.  Yes, Elvira is back for a third year at Knott’s Scary Farm and she is glorious.  The original mistress of the dark, Elvira is the original campy queen of screams.  A California native and Groundlings alumni, she fits perfectly with the tongue-in-cheek humor and sensibility of Knott’s Scary Farm.

Elvira’s Asylum is a much more solid show than last year’s Big Top show.  The buxom hostess is thrust center stage where she belongs, keeping the wonderful supporting players to the side lines, ready to perform when needed.  Among the players is a stunningly talented aerialist.  Flying, spinning and gliding above the stage she takes flight in a hard edged, yet graceful performance.  Certainly a highlight.

The other plus is of course the eye-candy.  Elvira’s biggest attributes are front and center for all to see and ogle. Her supporting cast, including her beautiful pet on a leash, provide enough distractions when the jokes don’t land properly.

The set design is solid, with plenty of ins and outs for the performers to snake through.  The choreography and staging are also very good, never feeling repetitive, always offering something fresh and interesting to see.  Also of note is the precision lighting design.  It is probably some of the more spectacular we have seen from Knott’s in a long time.

This is probably the most balanced of Elvira’s shows since her return to Scary Farm. Lacking the lulls  that last year’s show had with the sword swallower and the contortionist, the pacing is right on.  The writing is also solid for the most part, offering only a few jokes that could easily be cut. They took a very smart path this year, giving audiences what they came to see which is the Mistress of the Dark.  She is on stage for nearly three quarters of the show and she carries it as she should.  Nice work to the Knott’s team and to all involved in producing a solid piece here.

To see our review of the mazes and haunted attractions offered at Knott’s Scary Farm, Click Here.

With 11 haunted attractions and more than 1,000 monsters roaming the park and lurking in the fog, whatever you’re imagining, it’s here…at Knott’s Scary Farm. Visit KnottsScaryFarm.com for tickets and join the conversation using #ScaryFarm

Knott’s Scary Farm is a separately ticketed event on 24 nights September 24 through October 31. Due to the explicit and frightening nature of the event, it is not recommended for children under 13.