The First Shadow," a stage prequel to the popular Netflix series, comes the question: Will this stand-alone tale appeal - and then satisfy - audiences beyond its fan base? The answer will depend on whether one's love of spectacular effects - of which there are many - trumps

There was the creepy Grey House a few seasons ago, and you might when King Kong lumbered around a stage a while back, but Stranger Things: The First Shadow easily outdoes them for jump scares and genuine thrills.

This Broadway production delivers lots of spectacle as it winds back to the teenage years of Henry Creel, an antagonist from the Netflix series.