Pounding a nail into one's face and lying down on a bed of nails are pretty exceptional feats, but for Wide Eyed Productions, that's just the opening scene to warm up the audience.
Burquitlam's Brian Anderson, artistic director, plays the lead role in Arnie the Carnie's House of Mystery, which will play at next week's Vancouver Fringe Festival.
The show takes a look at the old vaudeville performers, explains Anderson, who also wrote the play, and it traces the history of some of the more mystical elements, such as seances.
There will be live demonstrations but they won't be giving away any secrets, said Anderson.
"There's always a mix of truth and lies," he adds, with a laugh.
The kernel of the idea for House of Mystery has been in Anderson's head for two years and the show has been refined over the past two-and-a-half months.
Anderson has been performing in the fringe festivals for five years and has spent 23 years with the Vancouver Theatresports League.
He said he really enjoys the fringe shows because it enables him to use all the "funky, weird skills I've picked up over the years."
House of Mystery is a follow-up to the company's 2011 House of Fun, and would appeal to those of a more "slightly skeptical bent - the Penn and Teller types," said Anderson.
Arnie will be joined on stage by Matt Grinke, Nathan Clark (Gutenberg! The Musical!) and Elizabeth Bowen (Will Shakespeare's ImproMusical). Allen Morrison serves as director.
