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BRAT Productions’ new play “Carrie,” which is running through early November at the Wolf Building, will be somewhat familiar to fans of the Stephen King novel as well as those who have seen various stage and screen adaptations.

You’ll recognize the plot — a tormented high school outcast turns out to be telekinetic and is humiliated for the last time at the blood-soaked (in more ways than one) prom.

What won’t be so familiar to audiences is that Carrie White is actually a man in drag (nicely fitting King’s characterization as weird-looking and misshapen), as well as all the comedy.

BRAT, lauded for last year’s Halloween production of “ Haunted Poe,” couldn’t do just any show for this year’ s Halloween season.

They decided to put a spin on the well-known horror tale by producing a script that deviated so much from the flavor of the book that it had to obtain special permission from the masterful horror writer himself.

Changing the traditional gasps to laughs was the main task of the production, which manages to be campy and comedic rather than remotely scary. The freakish happenings (Carrie’s telekinetic hovering objects, shooting sparks, exploding lights and the like) are accomplished through amateur effects that are more humorous than realistic.

The dangling fishing lines, silly projections, delightful puppets, and blood-filled balloons combine with the script (which includes clever one-liners and cultural references) to create an air of campy fun that’s perfect for those not looking to take the show — or the story — or Halloween — too seriously.

The gags and effects get more and more ridiculous as the show goes along, culminating in the eventful prom night when just about everyone meets their end. The actors and designers all play up the campy vibe, and their enjoyment is palpable and contagious.

Catch a performance of “ Carrie” for an out of the ordinary spook-season activity.

“Carrie”
Now – November 7th
Underground Arts at the Wolf Building
340 N. 12th Street (at Callowhill), Philadelphia