Aria in Ice

Scouting for a “must be chilly/must be spooky” medieval castle in Prague to use as the background for a musical film based on a Gothic novel is, to quote Gershwin, “nice work if you can get it.”

Dancer Abby Fouchet, acting as location scout for film company Headlights Productions has “got” it. She’s also got her soap star fiancé playing wannabe burglar, a psychic with more costumes than a Broadway touring company, assorted film divas and grave-robbers popping up around Kouzlo Noc, Abby’s choice for the atmospherically creepy castle.

Then there’s the ghost. Ignatz Jezek, flautist and craftsman (who died in 1792 ) is providing musical accompaniment primarily from Mozart’s The Magic Flute, an opera dear to Jezek’s departed heart. Abby is the only one being entertained by flute music because along with her gifts of second-sight Abby has the unique and often maddening ability to “hear” spirits.

Throw murder into the mix of cast, crew and and Abby’s “nice work” may just end up getting her as cold as Kouzlo Noc and Ignatz Jezek.