Stage Fright

by Michael Paine

The Imperial Theater has just reopened for business under the directorship of Joanna Marshall, but her first production of a dark drama invokes the spirits of the theater's sordid history.

Genres: Horror

Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 2006

About the author

Pseudonym for John Michael Curlovich

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stage Fright was really quite awful. The story had its moments, and the Imperial Opera House, the main focus of the book, was certainly creepy. Unfortunately, the characters were horribly two-dimensional, there was very little in the way of explaining what was going on, and the constant harping on twisted, abusive sexual acts was just too much.

I somehow finished this book, likely mainly because I kept hoping that the author would somehow rescue it from the morass he had sunk it in, but alas, that wasn't to be.

I've read one of the author's other books, The Night School, which was immensely better and scarier than Stage Fright, and I've heard that one of his other books, Steel Ghosts, is very good, so I would recommend either of those if you're looking to read something by Michael Paine. As for this book, well...stay far, far away.

[Cassandra Glissadevil · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.7 stars
The premise lured me in, like the haunted Imperial Theater enticed Paine's cast of twenty something theater students. I found the idea irresistible. Much the same as Michael Paine's horror novel - Night School. I'm a glutton for haunted building novels. Can't get enough horror. Naturally, I auditioned "Stage Fright" and much to my dismay, I realized Paine rewrites the same novel again.

What does "Stage Fright" and "Night School" have in common? 1. Haunted building refurbished with large cast of young folk and youthful adults. 2. Multiple mysterious deaths to construction crews. 3. Bossy, sexually aggressive female flaunting authority. 4. Paine smears George Washington and sundry founding fathers. 5. Both novels share same plot holes. 6. Ancient Afro American character constantly warning off students- "Stay AWAY!" 7. Catastrophic abrupt endings tacked on in a hurry…Michael cramming for publisher's deadline? Only the names have changed. Both stories share Pittsburg locales.

Stage Fright isn't quite the novel that Night School was though. Paine doesn't do "drug use" well. Hello! LSD trips last 8-12 hours-- not a mere 30-60 minutes. Worst LSD trip ensconced in a novel- EVER!

What to expect? Paine's visual descriptions are slightly above the horror average. Dialogue and action are below par. If you plan on reading several haunted horror novels during your lifetime, I recommend-
The Shining - Stephen King
Hell House - Richard Matheson
The Haunting of Hill House- Shirley Jackson
Ghost Story- Peter Straub
“The House of Leaves” by Mark Danielewski

If you've already read the previous haunted house classics and you're searching for more scary haunted house stories, the following are at least four star plus in my book-

"The Women in Black- Susan Hill
"Burnt Offerings"- Robert Marasco
A Winter Haunting- Dan Simmons
The Sentinal- Jeffery Konvitz
Ushers Passing- Robert Mccammon
The Elementals- Michael McDowell
The Red Tree- Caitlin R Kiernan
Summer of Night- Dan Simmons
The House- Bentley Little
Floating Staircase- Ronald Malfi
The House Next Door- Anne Rivers Siddon
Night Stone- Rick Hautala
The House that Jack Built- Graham Masterton
The Loveliest Dead- Ray Garton

If you've exhausted all options, finding yourself picking over haunted bleached bones, sucking marrow like a ghoul, then please read everything Michael Paine. I'm ravenous to consume Paine's "Steel Ghosts" - an abandoned, haunted steel mill story.

[Tracy M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this out of my library because the promise of ghosts. There are those who believe in ghosts and then there is the fanatical. Joanne falls into the later category. The story line switches direction from her simple hunt for the spirits of the theatre and becomes more about the S&M and abuse of slaves all the while becoming more deranged.
The best part of the book was Mo’s play write, minus the Oginga’s cursing. Why would a slave (Shaman) use the curse that the descendants of the overseers continue to inflict pain on others and not have the pain inflicted upon themselves?

Read in one sitting.

[Jimmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book! It was a really great horror story. The author gives you everything I come to expect and love about this genre of books, and still finds a way to surprise, thrill, and scare me.
Jo takes advantage of an old opera house to start her own theater company, but she gets so much more when the owner comes to her in her dreams. The self-proclaimed owners Portia and Helen have something to say about it too.
You know she will pay, but will the cost ever be too much for her insane dream of being a famous actress?

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a work of horror fiction. It worked, I couldn't sleep very well that night since I read it in one sitting. It grabbed me and wouldn't let go.