Nominated for two Gypsy Awards for excellence in Puget Sound theatre by area theatre critics:
Excellence in Lighting Design for the smaller theaters:
Carolina Johnson – The Brothers Paranormal (Pork Filled Productions)
Excellence in Sound Design for a smaller theater
Troy Lund – The Brothers Paranormal (Pork Filled Productions)
Miryam’s Theatre Musings/ Seattle Gay News
“There some plot twists that may not be revealed here, and that should keep you guessing and on your toes as the play unfolds…. Besides Dracula at ACT Theatre, this is definitely the most freaky fun.”
Drama In The Hood (Seattle):
“This production had the audience at the edge of our seats the entire show. We laughed, cried, and got the creeps. The script weaves together the three genres—comedy, drama, and horror—seamlessly, leaving the audience to experience a rollercoaster of emotions. The director, Mimi Katano, brings to the production a wonderful direction that allowed the play to smoothly show off the emotion of each genre.”
Seattle GayScene
“The playwright has created two sets of interesting characters (the Thai family of ghost busters and Delia/Felix the African American hurricane refugees) and the dialogue is amusing and there are some fun scary scenes in the play with clever DIY stagecraft utilizing Robin Macartney’s innovative set design. The overall feeling of an Asian ghost/horror movie is nicely done on this production’s small budget.
“And, the cast is a fine ensemble with especially fun performances from Kathy Hsieh as the meddling Thai mom and Selena Whitaker-Paquiet as the haunted Delia. Both nail the comedic elements of their performances as well as the more emotional heartfelt ones as well.”
Seattle Chinese Times
“Filled with supernatural elements, horror effects, comic scripts, heart-breaking moments, and honest takes on tough topics, The Brothers Paranormal seems to have too much on its plate. Yet, this is one of the most astonishing plays I have seen in years. Playwright Prince Gomolvilas’ well-constructed story speaks to the heart of those who have experienced regret, guilt, isolation, grief, or loss. More than just “a ghost story,” this heartfelt production is horrifyingly entertaining with”
Our PFP Patrons!
“The Brothers Paranormal,” produced by Pork Filled Players at Theater Off Jackson, was hands down, my favorite show because it had so many elements and twists. It also had the added advantage of giving the theatergoer a roller coaster of emotions. Where else can you go from skeptic, believer, frightened, charmed, amused and then for a moment, extreme joy! Two families who were displaced, one by nature, the other by immigration come together when half of a loving couple discovers something otherworldly in their apartment. Go see it!”
“This play will make you laugh and cry and scare the bejuesses out of you . I loved it.”
“THIS PLAY IS SO GOOD. Everyone go see it, ASAP!”
“Go see this! Seattle theatre should follow the lead of Pork FilledProductions. Everyone talks about diverse programming, casting and audiences but PFP does it consistently by putting on quality productions.
I loved this show not just for the satisfying scares but for the character development and the struggle between the horrors of hidden pain and fears of the paramormal. It’s funny, thrilling and gut-wrenching. An excellent production all around.
Plus, admission is sliding scale so you can choose your level of financial support.”
“This was one of my favorite plays!…Thank you so much for doing it, and enticing me in with the hopes of spooky and then introducing me to such wonderful characters and relationships. Bless you all.”
“Such a wonderful layered play. Congratulations to all involved!”
“Totally agree that this project should be seen!”
“SO SO GOOD (Don’t miss this show theatre peeps!)”
“go see this show! it totally freaked me out and was so moving on so many other levels beyond the scare factor; really, go support it.”
“Listening the the audience lose their shit over the creepy stuff in Brothers Paranormal is the BEST THING EVER… What an absolutely awesome show. Wonderful performances and design and direction!”
Acclaim for the New York City Production
“Prince Gomolvilas’s clever, multilayered play is gratifyingly subtle in its inquiry into migration—the pain of crossing over for the living and the dead alike. Jeff Liu’s direction shifts deftly among registers: comedy, melancholy, suspense, and several genuine scares, achieved with the help of some smart lo-fi effects (designed in part by Steve Cuiffo) but especially through the performances.”
Acclaim for the Saint Paul Production
”Funny, haunting, and brilliant! The Brothers Paranormal stands among the most brilliantly sculpted works I’ve encountered on a Twin Cities stage within the past few years. Directed by Penumbra founder Lou Bellamy, it features six actors creating vivid and memorable characters. Thanks in great part to Gomolvilas’s astounding craftsmanship, it’s a production that deftly combines comedy with spine-tingling suspense and imaginative ways of conveying lessons about loss, grief, and how we are each haunted.”
—Pioneer Press
More Acclaim
“The Brothers Paranormal makes for an entertaining ride, but one that will also resonate with anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one.”
—Broadway World
“An insightful look at how people deal with loss.”
—Let’s Go to the Theater
“Crackles with tension from start to finish! Comedy gives way to terror as its Asian- and African-American characters also battle their own personal demons. It’s a fascinating, spellbinding, and heartbreaking experience.”
—TheatreScene.Net
“Spine-tingling! What makes this play special is its ability to constantly surprise us with unexpected twists and turns. This show will intrigue and shock you simultaneously, but yet, fascinatingly, you somehow leave with a sense of hope.”
—Theater That Matters
“A sublime horror story! ”
—Times Square Chronicles
”A new must-see thriller! Loaded with heart and even more heartbreak. The most successful comedies use humor to prime the audience for some serious, affirming messages. Gomolvilas’ innovation is using the supernatural to make affecting but totally unexpected points about loss, displacement, mental illness, and family.”
—Star Tribune
”A story that keeps twisting and turning all the way to the end! Ambitiously encompassing topics including climate change and economic inequality, The Brothers Paranormal takes on a lot—but then, so do many families such as these. The show largely succeeds, thanks to a well-crafted, often amusing script, and to strong performances that keep these characters grounded even when they’re climbing the walls.”
—City Pages
”It’s genuinely scary in parts! On the night we saw it, after a scene that made most of us jump in our seats, two women near the front stood up and ran out. It’s brilliantly written—spooky, touching, illuminating, funny, sad, and sweet. Also serious and insightful about things like the immigrant experience and mental illness. The Brothers Paranormal includes some big surprises that deserve to be experienced in the theater, in the moment.”
—MinnPost
“Gomolvilas has devised a pleasingly twisty plot that keeps us engrossed and never tips its hand, and leads to a satisfying, genuinely frightening climax. A well-crafted, highly original play!”
—Talkin’ Broadway
“A totally captivating thriller! Will have you laughing, jumping out of your seat, and contemplating the deeper issues at play.”
—Cherry and Spoon
“A thrilling nail-biter! Even the most jaded, experienced theatergoer is likely to find plot twists here that they didn’t expect, and it is a really exciting live experience.”
—Compendium
“Billed as a ghost story, The Brothers Paranormal begins lightly, with humor and a comic set-up. But scene by scene the play becomes more serious. It is a ripping good yarn with nifty effects and some jolting surprises!”
—How Was the Show?
“One truly eerie play! Will likely send chills down your spine.”
—Lavender
“At turns horrifying and moving, profound and endearing! The Brothers Paranormal doesn’t cut any corners in delivering a thrilling and exciting meditation on the meaning of death and whether people can come back from beyond the grave (and why). The play pushes the outermost boundaries of what we expect in horror theater, with moments easily rivaling the greatest Asian ghost-story films. It fully vindicates a growth in the genre, opening up tantalizing possibilities of what’s possible onstage with a resourceful troupe.”
—Twin Cities Geek