Miskatonic Monday #223: The Show Must Go On

Between October 2003 and October 2013, Chaosium, Inc. published a series of books for Call of Cthulhu under the Miskatonic University Library Association brand. Whether a sourcebook, scenario, anthology, or campaign, each was a showcase for their authors—amateur rather than professional, but fans of Call of Cthulhu nonetheless—to put forward their ideas and share with others. The programme was notable for having launched the writing careers of several authors, but for every Cthulhu Invictus, The Pastores, Primal State, Ripples from Carcosa, and Halloween Horror, there was Five Go Mad in Egypt, Return of the Ripper, Rise of the Dead, Rise of the Dead II: The Raid, and more...

The Miskatonic University Library Association brand is no more, alas, but what we have in its stead is the Miskatonic Repository, based on the same format as the DM’s Guild for Dungeons & Dragons. It is thus, “...a new way for creators to publish and distribute their own original Call of Cthulhu content including scenarios, settings, spells and more…” To support the endeavours of their creators, Chaosium has provided templates and art packs, both free to use, so that the resulting releases can look and feel as professional as possible. To support the efforts of these contributors, Miskatonic Monday is an occasional series of reviews which will in turn examine an item drawn from the depths of the Miskatonic Repository.

—oOo—

Name: The Show Must Go On

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Sandra Catharin

Setting: 1930s Amsterdam

Product: Scenario
What You Get: Fifteen page, 14.00 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Sometimes being traditional really is the safest option. 

Plot Hook: When the theatre is notoriously superstitious, it’s the last place you want accidents.
Plot Support: Staging advice, four pre-generated Investigators, three NPCs, and two handouts.

Production Values: Plain

Pros

# Short, one-session focused investigation in a nicely detailed environment

# Easy to adapt to different cities and time periods

# Could be associated with the King in Yellow?

# Superstition-driven scenario that inflicts the dangerous avant-garde

# Nice Keeper background on theatrical superstitions

# Theatrophobia

# Keriophobia

# Eisoptrophobia

Cons

# Needs a strong edit

# More reactive in the second half

Conclusion

# Short, superstition-driven investigation in a theatre

# Ultimately... burn the place down.