Gaslight theatre review (UK tour): Should a wife always believe what she is told is true?
Gaslight theatre review, Katey Thompson.
Kara Tointon skilfully depicts Bella Manningham, a fragile, nervous lady who is prone to always accepting what her husband says. Jack Manningham, who is played by Rupert Young is her domineering husband. The production plays out in the drawing room of their home, where items are constantly being moved and misplaced. Jack Manningham always notices that this has all occurred, and accuses his wife of moving them as the trinkets are often found by him in the bottom of her sewing basket. This causes Bella to start to doubt her own recollection of events and whether she has or has not moved them. Jack Manngingham’s controlling behaviour becomes more apparent throughout the play, and he even appears to be little psychotic at times, and he uses his house keeper Elizabeth (Helen Anderson) and maid Nancy (Charlotte Blackledge) to reinforce his influence over Bella.
The play uses familiar techniques to create suspense and intrigue. This is illustrated when Bella receives a visitor once her husband has left for the evening, who is known to Nancy. Keith Allen is another dominative force in Bella’s world who presents another side of her husband who is searching for the family jewels he rightly believes belong to him.
The set is a cleverly rotated perspective looking across the diagonal of the room, and the whole tale occurs here. The actors use the whole of the set and are even seen sitting with their backs to audience at times. The lighting effects, a la The Woman in Black are also cleverly used to flash back to previous events that had occurred in the house.
The cast is made up of actors and actresses that you will recognise from many of television’s soaps and theatre, and are well suited to their roles. They put in a good performance, although there were some minor incidences that were a shame, and occasionally the dialogue was very quickly spoken which meant that some clarity was lost.
The play is a psychological thriller that perhaps at times takes a while to warm up – a slow burner – though it is a pleasant evening’s entertainment to be recommended to if you enjoy the genre.
Gaslight is running at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking until 28th January, 2017
