A college student put on a free, stage adaptation of Silent Hill 2 'to make a truly frightening theatrical experience' all without an appearance by Pyramid Head
Silent Hill 2 has finally gotten a remake after 23 years, but the PS2 original remains an elusive thing, best experienced on original hardware and CRT displays. Virginia Commonwealth University student Niko Wilkins, meanwhile, has created an even more ephemeral version of the classic psychological horror story: «Our Special Place,» a non-profit stage adaptation that unsettled audiences for a three-night limited run in September.
«The goal of the show was to create an immersive experience for the audience and put them into the mind of our protagonist, James Sunderland,» Wilkins explained over email. «For years, I've been coming up with ideas on how to make a truly frightening theatrical experience, but couldn’t find the right story to fit all these ideas into. Then I played Silent Hill 2, and I fell in love immediately.»
The student director got the go ahead on the project from VCU's non-profit, student-lead Shafer Alliance Laboratory Theater back in May, with Wilkins beginning work on the play's unique set design: «I spent the summer collecting set pieces, such as old cabinets, desk, lamps, and even a toilet. Once the show began I passed off the set pieces to my set designers for them to distress and make them more decrepit.»
The production used tracks from composer Akira Yamaoka's iconic soundtrack for Silent Hill 2, including White Noiz, Alone in the Town, and Black Fairy, but Wilkins also sampled some of the sound effects and ambience from Silent Hill 2 to deliver more of the game's atmosphere, as well as provide cues to the actors.
But the production also included some divergences from the game's story, with the most significant being the absence of Pyramid Head. Part of this was a sheer practical concern: "[the] last thing I wanted was a gimmicky cosplay of such an iconic character undermining the story," said Wilkins, with an actor in possession of the proper physique a challenge to find, and the character's signature headgear potentially being unworkable with
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