The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries "A Haunting We Will Go" #1.8 (1977)

Fun, 1 June 2017

To raise money for a local youth center, Nancy and friends decide to revive a play that was last performed 20 years ago. To everyone's surprise, the original actors agree to come back for the play. But is the cast's motivation really altruistic or does this group have another reason for returning? As soon as rehearsals begin, strange things start happening. Is the old theater really haunted by a phantom? Nancy is determined to get to the bottom of things.

In a couple of different ways, A Haunting We Will Go doesn't feel much like a traditional Nancy Drew episode. For much of the runtime, Nancy and Co play second fiddle to rest of the cast. Not surprising, really, when consider the rest of the cast includes the likes of Bob Crane, Victor Buono, Dina Merrill, and Pippa Scott. I enjoy Pamela Sue Martin's work in the series, but she didn't stand a chance against an over-the-top actor like Buono. He, and the others, dominate every scene in which they appear. Another reason that this episode doesn't feel like a normal Nancy Drew episode is the amount of comedy. While there's usually a laugh or two to be had in every episode, this one is jam-packed with funny bits. The scene where Buono and Crane are carrying bricks in the alleyway is very funny. Still, the final reveal is handled quite nicely and the solution to the mystery is satisfying. While it's not overly difficult to figure out why the original actors came back for the play and the phantom's identity, the way Nancy weaves the solution into the live play performance is a nice touch and very enjoyable. In fact, the whole thing is enjoyable. It may not feel like Nancy Drew, but A Haunting We Will Go is a lot of fun and very entertaining. And for me, entertainment is what it's all about.

7/10