The Wyndham Textile Museum in Wilimantic, CT revisits the past to a scary time period in the 1800s when many women were wrongfully institutionalized. The conditions in these domiciles were offensive and gruesome which we experienced as we walked through. This is the 2nd year that the museum has brought to life the true horrors of the past. The focus of the 2016 season was to bring to light the horrible conditions of asylums, prisons, and reckless medical treatments that occurred in the late 19th century. This is not your typical haunted house experience. Upon entering the museum, the staff wants you to know that this will be a night of education, that the main goal is to educate you on the real life horrors during this time period. The use of some of the elements of a traditional haunted attraction make this a seasonally appropriate way to learn about these horrors of that time.
Although the cast is made up of volunteers you would swear that they came from the local theater district. Each scene had extensive dialogue that made you feel for the characters. It almost felt unethical to laugh or enjoy the performance. After all, they were portraying the terrible and unfair treatment of countless lives. Upon entering, the host makes it abundantly clear that in no way are they mocking mental health issues. The goal was to show you how terrible these conditions and places were for these poor souls. Outside of the textile museum they have set up a more traditional haunted attraction which featured the fictitious ghouls and monsters that you see in the more traditional haunts.
Every actor inside Nightmare on Main was dressed their part accordingly. You won’t find any monsters or zombies or ghosts inside the museum, only portrayals of real life historical characters. Outside in the more traditional haunted maze, you will find a few hooded ghouls, perhaps representing the poor souls who lost their lives inside the dark dismal asylums.
The production manager, Beverly, couldn’t have been a better host. She worked hard to make sure everyone was on the same page and that the greeters were ready to appropriately set the tone. The textile museum has ample, free parking across the street. Although most of the building and outdoor maze are dimly lit, a large snack tent provides sufficient light which let me know that the event was being held there, making it easy to find. Tickets come in the form of a wrist band, each labeled as a different accusation for asylum confinement or medical treatment. I apparently fell off a horse during the war and hit my head, while others were confined for things like simply reading a book. The wristbands provided a soft and subtle, yet effective way to get their guests to understand how easy it was to be admitted. The ticket booth and waiting line are located inside the gift shop of the museum. The gift shop primarily consists of books and textile gifts.
There were very few effects in this attraction as it was more geared to educate. A woman is electrocuted in a chair with no sound effects or lighting effects. A Styrofoam head is lobotomized. A girl sees her own shadow move back and forth on its own. Outside there is a strobe light or two and maybe a few surprises.
Enough Sound FX? (35% of score):
Sound FX Effective? (15% of score):
Sounds Appropriate? (25% of score):
Creative, Original FX? (10% of score):
Special FX Effective? (15% of score):
The most frightening moment of the night was when we had to stuff ourselves into a tiny washroom with an insane woman smiling and whispering to us. I believe the scene was to demonstrate what happens to women after they have been confined to an asylum for so long. Clearly we were not supposed to scream or laugh and although it was hard for us not to, it just felt unethical. Outside we could scream all we wanted. Some folks had only gone through the outdoor maze and were screaming bloody murder. Quite a switch from the educational style to the fear entertainment style.
411 Main Street, Willimantic, Connecticut 06226
