by Terrance Mc Arthur

A handful of people crowd into a small trailer behind Hart’s Haven Bookstore, and strange things happen, because it’s a Séance with Strangely. Strangely is the Rogue Festival’s favorite accordion-wielding zany, but he sets aside that persona for an evening of storytelling and bizarre magic.

It’s a tale of a legendary card cheat, which serves as a platform for demonstrations of coin dexterity, spectral manifestation, and automatic writing. In a miniscule venue with air that feels like it will coat your lungs, the storytelling is the main course, with the magic highlighting, rather than dominating. The illusions and effects are startling, but what you remember most is a gentle voice leading audience members to a meeting with the unusual.

Séance with Strangely has extremely limited seating, and takes place behind Hart’s Haven, 950 N. Van Ness Ave., March 3 at 10pm, March 7 at 8pm, March 8 at 11:30pm, and March 9 at 8pm. Advanced booking is required, and can be made at (206) 235-2049. Tickets are $15. Come for the atmosphere, come to be intrigued.

Terrance V. Mc Arthur is a Librarian in Fresno County, California. He is also a storyteller, puppeteer, magician, and maker of pine needle baskets. On top of that he writes stories that range from rhymed children’s tales to splatterpunk horror. He’s an odd bird, but he’s nice to have around.