In 2007, Paranormal Activity hit the big screen, not only becoming a massive hit but also spawning a franchise that is still going strong. The eighth film is set for release in 2027. So when Mirvish Productions in Toronto announced a stage play version, I was more than a little intrigued.
How do you capture that found-footage feel, that sandbox they play in on film, and adapt it for the stage? Not only did they find a way, but the play blew past my expectations. It delivered a show with strong performances, great lighting and sound, and carefully orchestrated effects that left the audience gasping and screaming on more than a few occasions.
The Paranormal Activity Stage Play Follows a Young Couple Looking for a New Start
We meet the young married couple, James (Patrick Heusinger) and Louise, aka ‘Lou’ (Melissa James), as they try to settle into their new home in London, England. They have moved from Chicago, where there were apparently some problems, mostly centered on Lou. Thanks to James’s job, they were able to leave and make a fresh start…or so they thought.
Instead of getting a new start, strange things start happening all over again and quickly get worse. Before they know it, their lives are at risk, and they have no idea how to stop what they can’t understand.
To set the mood, the Paranormal Activity live show gives us a set that is a cross-section of the living area. It includes the living room and kitchen, then stairs leading upstairs to the bathroom, bedroom, and spare room. It lets the audience see what is happening upstairs, even when the young couple downstairs, oblivious, can’t see a thing.
The creative setup gives the audience a quite different perspective and adds even more tension and intrigue to an already very tense, dread-filled atmosphere. The deception and misdirection used during the show help amp up the excitement and fear in the crowd, creating a great collaboration all around.
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The mechanics of the show are very well done, from the lighting and sound to the overall look. When the house lights go down from time to time, it is indeed pitch black, and with no sound from the stage, any loud bang (and there are a few) echoes through the theater, causing more than a few people to jump in their seats.
The people behind the scenes work overtime on this one, making sure the effects come off and the mood is just right. With such a great set to work on, the actors can really get into the parts and the show’s overall feel.
Heusinger and James are excellent as the leads, delivering raw, emotional performances that mix humor and horror, making it feel real, something people can relate to. These are not easy, mailed-in performances. Sometimes people scoff at horror as derivative or simple, yet these are two actors conveying complex emotions and a genuine sense of fear.
Rounding out the cast are Etheline Cotgrave (Jackie Morrison) and Carolanne (Pippa Winslow), who is brutal as the overbearing, God-loving mother of James. There are only four cast members, and they play their roles extremely well, offering the audience new things to chew on and old ideas and memories that may resonate with some.
Paranormal Activity in Toronto Is Worth Checking Out
Speaking of the audience, they were amazing both times I saw the show. Everyone was fully into it, giggling when scared, screaming or jumping, and collectively gasping at certain points. I’m certain many weren’t ready for how dark it got when the lights went out from time to time, and nervous anticipation hung in the air. That kind of real energy must feed the cast members, fueling their performances night after night.
The Paranormal Activity stage play was well executed overall, and its tight runtime kept the crowd engaged. The effective use of shadows, darkness, effects, and misdirection kept everyone on their toes. If you enjoy horror and theater and want to be part of a great crowd, check out the show when you can. You won’t be disappointed.
Paranormal Activity is live in Toronto at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre through July 5, 2026.
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