The Kreep

Brazillia R. Kreep
The Kreep character
Brazillia R. Kreep - The Kreep
First appearance	October 31, 2007
Created by	R. O'Donnell
Voiced by	R. O'Donnell
Information
Nickname(s)	The Kreep
Gender	Male
Occupation	Poet & Illustrator
Relatives	Sarah Elizabeth Kreep Brazillia William Kreep Parthenia Goste (a ghost)
Religion	Paganism
Nationality	UK
Website	The Kreep

Brazillia R. Kreep (a.k.a. The Kreep) is a Gothic poet and illustrator in the tradition of Edward Gorey, and is the nom de plume of writer R. O’Donnell.^[1]

History

The Kreep first appeared on Halloween, 2007 as a weekly column published by webzine Static Multimedia. The column, under the banner of Kreep's Korner, reviewed classic and contemporary horror films in rhyme which were also linked to a weekly podcast on iTunes, voiced by creator O'Donnell and engineered by Eric Hoffhines.^[1] Formatted to resemble a penned letter to its readers, Kreep’s Korner included historical facts and an original poem about the film with the reoccurring sign-off of "In Eternity".

Blogging

In 2008, O'Donnell began blogging regularly under "The Kreep" banner. Gothic poems in verse dubbed "Kreeplets" appeared almost daily, illustrated with original art, and covered a variety of macabre topics such as vampires, ghouls, and goblins. Other topics outside the sphere of horror included homelessness, love, war, and poverty. Additional blogs began reposting The Kreep such as In Shadows, Dirty Wings, and Gothican on a regular basis. ^[2]

Also in 2008, The Kreep was featured on the NeverEndingWonder Halloween Radio's Voices of Halloween - a series of Halloween memories, greetings and station IDs by some of the most infamous names in the horror business. Along with Forrest J. Ackerman (editor Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine), Vic Mizzy (composer The Addams Family, The Night Walker), and David Hedison (1958, actor, The Fly), The Kreep offered anecdotes about his meetings with Vincent Price and how Freddy Krueger actor Robert Englund celebrated Halloween.^[3]

Kreepmas & Jack Frost Day

The Kreep also celebrates several faux holidays such as Kreepmas and Jack Frost Day, which are celebrated yearly in poems and original art.^[1]

Kreepmas combines Halloween and Christmas, and is celebrated October 1 through December 31. Jack Frost Day is celebrated through the month of December and was originally conceived as a way for O'Donnell, due to a separation, to celebrate the holidays with his three children.^[1]

Coraline Handmade Box

In 2008, The Kreep received a Coraline handmade box numbered 46/50 assembled by the stop-motion animation team at Laika films, honoring their favorite bloggers.^[4][5] Inside the box, numbered 46/50, are decorated secret compartments that contain relics from the film including a bat/dog model, a bat body mold, authentic skeleton key with secret password, and a wing skeleton prototype #3. An old envelop with a wax seal with inlaid black button (as used for the eyes of the witch) and a hand-typed note explained the curious gift: "We admire your dedication to The Kreep. Please keep up the super work. We'll be reading."

Poetry Scream

O'Donnell went on to create and host (as The Kreep) the Poetry Scream on July 30. 2010.^[6] Dressed in steampunk garb, Brazillia R. Kreep reads from his book of Kreeplets, which concern the sinister escapades of doomed Children. Now an ongoing event, the Poetry Scream features five poets on stage at selected venues throughout the country.

An Evening With The Kreep

An Evening With The Kreep is a 60 minute theatrical with book, music, and lyrics by Brazillia R. Kreep. It was presented by the Black Pearl Cabaret on October 25–27, at the Undertown, located in the heart of the Victorian Seaport of Port Townsend, Washington. The "Kreep" show features poetry and song and summons a variety of haunting characters from the Kreep’s darkest dreams.^[7] Characters included The Kreep performed by R O'Donnell, Parthenia Goste performed by Alanna Dailey, Jack Frost performed by Jason Altamirano, Ms. Autumn performed by Holly Stone-Cabe, and Kreepy H. Krawler performed by cellist Aidan McClave. Songs included Welcome To My Lighthouse, See Me, Wish Myself, I'm Lamenting, and Halloween. The production was directed by Amanda Steurer.

Kreepmas

Kreepmas is a Gothic, macabre twist on the Charles Dickens’ classic “Christmas Carol" with book, music, and lyrics by Brazillia R. Kreep. It was presented by the Black Pearl Cabaret on December 20–23, 2012 at the Undertown in Port Townsend, WA. Characters included The Kreep performed by R O'Donnell, Albert T. Krumb performed by Jason "Ares" Altamirano, Kreepy H. Krawler performed by cellist Aidan McClave, Thaddeus Plum performed by Joey Ripely, Matilda Pift performed by Misha Cassella-blackburn and the two-headed Twipple Twins, Twinkle & Dinkle, performed by Cassella-blackburn and Ripley.^[8] Cellist arrangements by Aidan McClave, costumes designed by O'Donnell and built by Mara Palmen, Stage Managed and Asst'd Directed by DJ Adams with songs that included Kreepmas Celebration, Drink Up For Kreepmas, I'm the Ghost of Been There Done That, The Bells, Why Not For Me, and We Wish You a Merry Kreepmas. The production was produced and directed by O'Donnell.

Kreepshow

Kreepshow is a 60 minute Gothic musical comedy cabaret with book, music, and lyrics by Brazillia R. Kreep. It opened for an open-ended run on March 29, 2013 at the historic Manresa Castle in Port Townsend, WA.^[9] Characters include The Kreep performed by R O'Donnell, Parthenia Goste performed by Misha Cassella-blackburn, Jack Frost performed by Jason Altamirano, and Kreepy H. Krawler performed by cellist Aidan McClave. Songs include Welcome to My Castle, See Me, How I Miss the Circus, I'm Lamenting, and Kreepy Things. The production is produced and directed by O’Donnell, costumes and props by Lynne Cassella-blackburn, and stage managed by DJ Adams.

Steve Treacy, contributing theatre critic to the Port Townsend Leader wrote of the troupe’s skills that, “Overall the group’s singing and dancing numbers, including “I’m Lamenting” and “Creepy Things,” round out one’s “good to be alive” evening.” He went on to praise The Kreep, saying, “His writing, directing, acting and warbling abilities conspire to make him a quadruple threat. Even his spoken poems, especially “Little Annie Orkle,” are sparkling (no mean feat for that musty old art form).”^[10]

In a “Best Local Theater of 2013” article published in the PT Leader Arts Section, "Kreepshow," a Gothic comedy cabaret conjuring some spiritual denizens of our Victorian seaport,”^[11] was listed as one of the favorite locally written plays penned by Brazillia R. Kreep. Other nods included one of the standout acting performances by R O’Donnell as The Kreep, as well as outstanding achievements in directing and choreography (O’Donnell) and costuming (Lynne Casella.)^[11]

Alice Isn't All There

Alice Isn't All There is a musical comedy adaptation on the Lewis Carroll’s classic “Alice in Wonderland" with book, music, and lyrics by Brazillia R. Kreep. It was presented by the St. John's Conservatory Theatre on October 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 2014 at the St. John's Parish House in the city of Ogdensburg, NY. Direction was by R O'Donnell, Musical Direction and Vocal Arrangements were by Angela Conzone Dwyer with Orchestrations by Pat Duffy. Original Alice costumes where created by Ann Losurdo, set and Props were hand-made by fine artist Stephen Chambers. The cast consisted of Allexa Hooper as Alice Brimble, Hailey Weber as Alice Liddle, Paige Merz as the Cheshire Cat, Sloane Ryan as Boo Hoo and the Caterpillar, Steve Summers as Itsy Bitsy, Deanna Bellinger as the Dormouse, Bill LaMere as the Jack Rabbit, Angela Conzone Dwyer as the Queen of Hearts and Mrs. Zizzlebot, Christopher Dwyer as Tweedledee and Mr. Zizzlebot, Ryan Woodard as Tweedledum, Joel Burke as The Narrator, and R O’Donnell as Belvedere Brumbleton, Derk Powers, The Knave of Hearts, and the Mad Hatter. Other production team included Michael O’Donnell (Executive Producer), Christopher Dwyer (Technical Director), Alynia Hermaine Rule (Stage Manager), and Dominic Solis (Production Coordinator). The story of Alice is told by the Bells & Wheezle Circus Company, a European-style commedia dell’arte and runs 90 minutes with all original songs.^[12] A contemporary Alice finds herself in Wonderland haunted by the Victorian Alice while interacting with all the usual classic characters.^[13][14][15] Original songs included The Bells & Wheezle Circus, Tic Toc, Wish Myself, We're All Mad Here, Not For Me, The Oswegatchie, All Haill the Queen/Off with His Head, and many reflections.

References