Spooky drama coming to Rubicon

Rubicon Theatre Company will conclude its seventh season—just in time for Halloween—with the psychological thriller “The Turn of the Screw,” written by Jeffrey Hatcher and based on the classic novel by Henry James. The production will be presented through Sun., Oct. 30 at the Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura. Tickets range from $27 to $48. Please call (805) 667-2900.for show times and tickets.

In this adaptation of James’ novella, a mysterious man hires an attractive young Victorian governess to care for his orphaned nephew and niece. She accepts the position, and upon arrival falls instantly in love with the manor house, the remote Essex countryside and the children. But why was the young boy expelled from school? Why does his angelic young sister refuse to speak? Who are the strange, ghostly apparitions luring the children toward a stormtossed lake? And are they real, or a product of the governess’ imagination?

“For over a century,” said Rubicon’s producing artistic director Karyl Lynn Burns, “critics have debated whether Henry James intended his novel to be a ghost story or a psychological exploration of the governess’ repressed sexual feelings. Jeffrey Hatcher’s adaptation honors the novel by preserving that ambiguity. It’s up to the audience to decide.

“The title is descriptive of the experience of watching the play,” Burns said. “As the play progresses, we bore more deeply into the situation, and into the psyche of the governess. It’s an entertaining, imaginative, if shocking story, perfect for Halloween.”