Shawn Says: Poag’s Hole Dares You to Laugh While You’re Looking Over Your Shoulder

A review by Shawn Maus for the League of Cincinnati Theatres

Suspense with a Wink and a Shiver

From the moment the first line hits the air, Poag’s Hole sets a tone: uneasy, eerie—and oddly funny. Written by Anne Valentino and directed with slow-burning precision by Grace Wagner, this one-night-only staged reading for Cincinnati LAB Theatre’s 2025 New Works Festival is the kind of psychological thriller that keeps your mind racing and your spine tingling.

If Hitchcock had a dinner party with Ira Levin, Lee Mandelo, Julia Armfield, and Ken Ludwig, Poag’s Hole might be what they’d cook up. It’s Dial M for Murder meets Deathtrap, with just the right amount of bite and satire to keep you laughing right before you get the chills.

Welcome to Poag’s Hole—population 2,456, soon to be 2,458 as newcomers Sophie and Atlas arrive in search of peace, privacy, and a fresh start. But this rural town has its own ideas about outsiders. As a queer couple, they spark quiet curiosity—and not-so-quiet concern—from their septuagenarian neighbors, Moore and Lottie Otto. Self-proclaimed traditionalists with a deep suspicion of anything “woke,” the Ottos invite the couple to a dinner party that quickly spirals into something far more sinister. What begins as an awkward welcome turns into a psychological showdown, where secrets unravel and survival becomes the main course. Dark comedy meets slow-burn thriller in this smart, unsettling exploration of fear, difference, and control.

A Cast That Cracks and Cuts

• Alissa Paasch (Atlas) – A force of sardonic charm and bottled-up fury. Every line smolders.

• Kate Stark (Sophie) – Turns social awkwardness into comic gold, grounding scenes with subtle warmth.

• Jim Stump (Moore Otto) – His rich, haunting voice evokes classic horror icons like Christopher Lee. Genuinely unsettling.

• Elaine Eckstein (Lottie Otto) – Moves from dry wit to emotional gut-punch with unsettling ease.

• Nic Pajic (Tyson/Cop) – Just flat-out scared the bejeebus outta me at one point. And funny. Somehow both.

• Zak Kelley (Stage Directions) – Clear, well-paced delivery that framed the chaos without stealing focus.

This ensemble got it. The rhythms, the unease, the absurdity—it all landed. It’s a rare thing to see a reading so alive with tone and tension.

Fear, Suspicion, and the Othering of “Difference”

What lingers after Poag’s Hole isn’t just the plot twists—it’s the way fear grows in quiet places. The play explores how difference—real or perceived—can be manipulated into danger, how suspicion becomes a weapon. In Valentino’s hands, even the punchlines come with sharp edges.

“This play unspools as a psychological cat-and-mouse game, where every joke doubles as a warning and every laugh disguises a threat.”

Even as a reading, I could already see the possibilities for staging. There are scenes just begging for a brilliant set designer to sink their teeth into. The layers are there—waiting.

A Rare Glimpse Behind the Curtain

Cincinnati LAB Theatre’s mission to present plays in progress is more than just noble—it’s necessary. Poag’s Hole gave us a raw, unfiltered look at what new storytelling can be. The talkback that followed wasn’t an afterthought—it was a continuation of the show. This is where collaboration lives.

Shawn Says… Poag’s Hole is a slow burn that delivers a wicked payoff. Suspense, satire, and psychological sleight-of-hand—all in one smart, unsettling package. It only played for one night, but its impact will stick. Keep your eye on this one—it’s got teeth.

The Cincinnati LAB Theatre’s New Works Festival wraps up this week—Thursday, July 24 through Saturday, July 26—with your final chance to catch fully staged productions of bold, original plays still in development.

These aren’t polished reruns. They’re fresh stories in the making—and your presence makes a difference.

🎟 Get your tickets now, online or at the door:👉 https://cincylabtheatre.wixsite.com/cincylab/tickets

Help shape the future of theater—one night, one new play at a time.