It seems so obvious now. Of course, Phantasmagoria and Edward Gorey are a match made in heaven.

Well, more like a match made in some crumbling house where you try to sleep with one eye open to look for unwelcome guests and both ears tuned to the sound of whimpering from behind the walls.

Phantasmagoria, Orlando’s longtime Victorian storytelling troupe with a penchant for the bizarre, is touring its 16th annual Halloween-season show — arriving at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts later this week with future stops in DeLand and Sanford. It’s titled “Hauntingly Whimsical Tales” and pays tribute to the centenary of Edward Gorey’s birth.

Dana Mott’s projections in “Phantasmagoria XVI: Hauntingly Whimsical Tales” combine her own imagery with work by Edward Gorey, provided by the Edward Gorey Charitable Trust. (Courtesy Chris Bridges via Phantasmagoria)

Gorey, as fans know, also had a predilection for the bizarre and in his writings and drawings created an offbeat world full of creepy creatures, mischievous moppets and abhorrent accidents. But his stories and illustrations carefully balanced the darkness with a glimmer of light — a sly grin here, a knowing wink there. That meshes perfectly with the style of Phantasmagoria, which often tackles unsettling tales from the likes of Charles Dickens and Edgar Allan Poe with good humor accompanying the ghosts.

That synergy is reflected in Phantasmagoria’s already Victorian-inspired costumes, by Shelly Henriott, augmented by Gorey’s signature scarves. And the cast wearing them is in fine form as members tackle “The Beastly Baby,” “The Wuggly Ump,” “The Gashlycrumb Tinies,” “The Gilded Bat” and more. Nic Parks’ puppets add immensely to the fun; so does the trademark Phantasmagoria dancing, choreographed with Gorey-style elegance by Mila Makarova.

Nic Parks’ puppetry skills create some of Edward Gorey’s fantastical creatures in “Phantasmagoria XVI: Hauntingly Whimsical Tales.” (Courtesy Chris Bridges via Phantasmagoria)

Dana Mott’s projections are another highlight as they blend Gorey’s distinctive illustrations, made available by the Edward Gorey Charitable Trust, with her own unsettling scenes. Motion effects are particularly effective in breathing new life into Gorey’s imagery.

Meghan Pelfrey’s lighting helps with the storytelling, such as when a “pale greenish aura” is called for by the text. So, too, does her sound design, which includes needed thumps. Josh Solomon’s original music captures the somber-with-a-touch-of-playful spirit. In fact, the show could use more of it between the stories to give them a bit more breathing room.

Something whimsical this way comes in Phantasmagoria’s Edward Gorey tribute

That leads to my primary criticism of the show: The balance is (understandably) tilted toward Phantasmagoria’s usual style, but it could lean even more toward Gorey, particularly in two key areas.

One is props — Gorey’s stories and illustrations are filled with small oddities that add to the whimsy. While Phantasmagoria’s show allows the audience members to use their imagination freely, how invigorating would it be to unexpectedly produce a fan or a bottle of gin?

The cast reacts to something untoward in “Phantasmagoria XVI: Hauntingly Whimsical Tales.” (Courtesy Chris Bridges via Phantasmagoria)

Secondly, Gorey’s works often have a peculiar intimacy, at times an almost claustrophobic feeling. That sense is missing in some stories here as the large Phantasmagoria ensemble fills the stage. Perhaps using smaller groupings for some tales could be effective while providing more visual variety.

My quibbles notwithstanding, make no mistake: For fans of Gorey and/or Phantasmagoria, this is a delight. With charm, wit and just enough shivers down the spine, this partnership has conjured a whimsical world that expertly marries horror and humor.

There’s quite a kerfuffle in Edward Gorey’s “The Bug Book,” part of “Phantasmagoria XVI: Hauntingly Whimsical Tales.” (Courtesy Chris Bridges via Phantasmagoria)

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‘Phantasmagoria XVI: Hauntingly Whimsical Tales’

Length: 75 minutes
When and Where: Oct. 9-12 at the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando; Oct. 24-25 at the Athens Theatre in DeLand; Oct. 26 at the Tampa Theatre in Tampa; Nov. 1 at the Reilly Arts Center in Ocala; and Nov. 7-8 at Theater West End in Sanford.
Cost: Ticket pricing varies by venue.
Info: phantasmagoriaorlando.com

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/10/08/phantasmagoria-edward-gorey-review/