SALEM - The Halloween scare in Salem goes beyond the streets.

"Chilling Tales," a show of maritime ghost stories presented by the Salem Theatre Company, takes visitors off the mainland and onto the Friendship at Derby Wharf. Guests will be guided through the ship, and hear haunting stories of ghost ships and sea creatures told by local actors in period costume.

"(The stories) are influenced by Salem's maritime and trade history," says Catherine Bertrand, Salem Theatre Company's artistic director. "They get spooky because they're maritime stories and you're on the ship. It adds to the ambiance."

While hundreds are flooding the streets and haunted houses in the city during the month of October, "Chilling Tales" brings something different.

"Salem has so much more to offer than just the witch history," Bertrand says. "We have this gorgeous ship, why not use it? We highlight the ship and introduce it to thousands of tourists."

The ship is clearly the star of the show; it needs no decorations, no preparation.

"The ship is the ship," Bertand says. "It's so perfect in its setting. Honestly, there's no need to do anything."

"Chilling Tales" is now in its fifth year, as is the Salem Theatre Company. Many of the same actors come back each Halloween to do the show, including Frank MacDonald of Peabody, who is doing "Chilling Tales" for the fourth year.

MacDonald writes his own stories for the show. His tales tend to be on the lighter side.

"I try to be as funny as possible," he says. "This year's is loosely based on 'Dracula.'"

"Chilling Tales" was MacDonald's first try at acting. He got involved after bumping into fellow Salem Theatre actor Steve Stewart; both work in the Cummings Center in Beverly.

"I was at the vending machine, and I saw him in the hallway," MacDonald remembers. "He was on his phone, and he motioned for me to stop. The first thing I thought was, do I owe him money? But he asked if I had ever done any professional acting."

MacDonald hadn't, but he gave it try. And he liked it; he keeps coming back to "Chilling Tales" and has also been in some other local productions.

A total of 10 actors usually rotate through the "Chilling Tales" lineup, including ticket-takers, guides and storytellers. The actors start preparing for the seasonal show in July, when they review the stories, write new ones, and recruit other actors.

Last year, "Chilling Tales" attracted about 2,000 people. Bertrand says the stories told at the event are a bit scary, but still family friendly. All ages are welcome.

"We're more family oriented than some other attractions," MacDonald says. "We all have a good time. It's just fun from the minute you walk up to the ship."

If you go

* What: "Chilling Tales," maritime ghost stories

* When: Fridays from 6 to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 5 to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 4 to 8 p.m. through October.

* Where: The Friendship, Derby Wharf off Derby Street, Salem

* How: Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children under 13. Call 978-790-8546 or visit www.salemtheatre.com.