The genteel front lawn of Dalnavert Museum at the decidedly unspooky hour of 7:30 p.m. may not be the most conducive setting for grisly and creepy tales. But Tales of the Macabre actually brings a fair bit of hammy cheesiness to the proceedings for an appealing combination.

Backed by a spookily atmospheric soundscape performed live by two musicians and menaced by a slinking demoness (Arden Pruden), storyteller Charlie Creeps (writer Ethan Radstrom) spins a gruesome yarn about a serial killer, performs a menacing narrative poem, and tells tales of love gone wrong.

His performance tips a bit over the top at times and the lilting, sing-song quality of the storytelling gets a bit monotonous at points. But Radstrom commits to it fully, and his writing shows a real talent for wordsmithing.

Those looking for genuine terror might be disappointed. But if you go in looking for slightly spooky — but mostly campy fun — it delivers.