'The Twilight Zone' starts Thursday

MOSES LAKE — Suspenseful 1960s television comes to life this week through Moses Lake High School Masque and Gavel’s production of “The Twilight Zone.”

Two episodes of “The Twilight Zone” were adapted for theater by high school junior Jeff Ames, said Director Don Hendrixson.

Tickets are $5 each for the Thursday, 7 p.m., showing. A $10 dinner performance is Friday at 6 p.m. Dinner is provided by the Speech and Debate Club.

The play is performed in the Moses Lake High School commons.

To create a retro television atmosphere, actors will wear black, white and gray. Even the actors’ hair and skin will look like it came straight black-and-white television.

Props are also appropriately colored.

Rod Serling’s television series, known for plot lines where a seemingly normal situation turns eerie, aired from 1959 to 1964.

Students are performing the 1960 episode “Eye of the Beholder,” and the 1961 episode, “Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?”

“I think it’s funny,” said junior Rebecca Gish. “It’s weird. It’s like, ‘twilighty.’”

In addition, audience members will be treated to two original “commercials.” 

Hendrixson said the play will not be scary to ticket holders.

“If they’ve watched anything in the last 20 years, this will not scare them at all,” said Hendrixson. “I think they’ll like it, too, because it offers an interesting perspective on how people see themselves and others, and how we define what looks good. I think it does play a little on the whole idea of hysteria.”

Tickets to “The Twilight Zone” are available at the door or by calling Moses Lake High School at 509-766-2666.

Thursday’s performance supports future Masque and Gavel productions. Friday’s performance benefits the Moses Lake Booster Club.