←Recommendations of Ivories

Sloane and Gwyn bring their troubled relationship into a troubled house, one with its own secrets and its own malevolent agenda. Everything is strange, including the people of the town and, especially, the mysterious neighbor. And the ailing grandmother--is she really in that bedroom? And what is really happening in the basement? And is Sloane completely going off the rails? And a box of dog teeth? Really? McCarthy skillfully lets the tension build, all the time leaving us desperate to figure out what exactly is at work, until the chaotic paranormal denouement. Wonderfully scary stuff from beginning to end.

"I want love to win, but I don't think it will."

That's what I said during That scene in Ivories by Riley Elton McCarthy. This is what the gold standard of horror theatre is, people! If you want a show that's if Hereditary, The Shining, and Haunting of Hill House had a baby with pronouns, this is the show for you. Read this immediately, read it again, then call me so we can scream about it.

A slow burn. Riley understands theatrical horror's necessities (and how to make a compelling read!), but this play is so much more. Gender expression, love and relationships, and generational trauma are all emphasized within this play. What do we watch: the play as written or are Sloan's words merging meta-textually with the script? Once you begin reading, it's hard to put down.

This play toys with the theatrical limits of its own medium, but even a minimalist production would understand and highlight the characters' interpersonal drama, which weaves naturally and honestly in between the skin-tingling horror.

They say the key to writing a compelling story is to visit trouble upon your characters. There is trouble caking the walls of IVORIES' central house, and no character can escape being mired in it. Brimming with horrific, visceral imagery and uncomfortable, complex relationship dynamics, Riley Elton McCarthy's IVORIES is a modern horror classic, a worthy creative challenge for any director seeking to stretch the limits of what theatre can do.

Holy SHIT. This is more than gothic horror, this is straight up horror in the vein of Hereditary and the Pillowman. The kind of disturbing theater that will take you a while to recover from. Riley manages to poke all of the most painful spots and turn trauma into the most depraved haunted house story. I love the love triangle at the center of this play, and their dialogue is just stunning. Want to see the play. Or the film.

This terrifying but propulsive and deeply psychological play captured my heart from the first word until the last. Between the three excellent and well-written characters, the refined and perfect pacing of the story, and its chilling climax, Ivories is one of the greatest new plays that has just as much bite as its bark. I would kill (maybe not literally) to see this on a stage one day, or maybe even on Broadway. This story and this playwright belongs there. Riley Elton McCarthy is extremely talented, we'll all know their name one day.

This is a dark, well-crafted horror play that catches your attention right away and holds on until the last word. Imaginative and original, I hope to see this fully staged. Brilliant.

Horror is difficult in theatre because it can easily become camp. The nuances of film don't always lend themself to dialogue driven stories of the stage. Luckily that isn't the case with this incredibly well crafted play. We are given three flawed characters in Sloan, Gwyn,and Beckham. Each is so driven in their personal goals- be it grief, worry, or longing that the rising- possibly supernatural- events go unnoticed. The horror is real, but so is the emotion. As I reached the end, I felt strong sadness for those who didnt survive, and for those who did.

Wonderful theatrical horror! Like all good horror, this is a compelling story in and of itself while also serving as a metaphor for important and intriguing issues like family trauma and what we do with it, dissatisfaction and specious "rot" within dysfunctional relationships, and more. I loved how the dread built throughout--starting with a general sense of unease and escalating throughout until some awesomely terrifying and theatrical grand gestures in the end. This play would work high or low tech--with an out of this world budget/production "value" or creative/more modest direction and design. Also appreciated the bi-visibility!

Such a bold play. Genuinely terrifying and a bit sexy. Endless possibilities for designers. PRODUCE THIS PLAY!!!