Yesterday I saw the current UK touring production of Patrick Hamilton’s play Gaslight. This wasn’t the kind of thing I would normally go and watch but I am so glad I did.
I struggle to explain the plot so this is the ‘blurb’ that Sheffield Theatres’ website gives: “While Jack Manningham is on the town each evening his wife Bella is home alone. She can’t explain the disappearance of familiar objects, the mysterious footsteps overhead or the ghostly flickering of the living room gaslight – is she losing her mind? Does the terror exist in her imagination or are dark secrets living in her home? The surprise arrival of a retired detective leads to a shocking discovery that will shake her respectable Victorian marriage to its core.”
This show has a wonderful set and beautiful costumes designed by David Woodhead (Peter and the Starcatcher, Bugsy Malone, Abigail’s Party). These really help to transport us to The Mannigham’s Drawing Room in London, January 1871. Part of me thought the set and playing area should have been slightly bigger but the compactness of it worked well in showing Bella’s trappedness in her situation and created that sense of claustaphobicness. Howard Hudson’s (Peter and the Starcatcher, In The Heights, The Last Five Years) lighting design also worked wonderfully creating an eerieness but also a sense of magic.
This whole cast was wonderful. All of them really shone. There were two ensemble members, Adam Lilley (The 39 Steps, The King’s Speech) and Grace Osborn (Five Children and It, Whistle Down the Wind), who didn’t speak in the show but really helped in creating the atmosphere of tension.
The two maids, Elizabeth and Nancy, were played by Helen Anderson (Equus, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas) and Charlotte Blackledge (Stephen Ward the Musical, The Importance of Being Earnest) respectively. Helen provided some much needed comedy into this otherwise very dark play and Charlotte really came into her own in Act 2 who was perfectly horrible and unlikeable. Both gave brilliant and very memorable performances.
Rupert Young (Merlin, High Society, Company) took on the villainous role of Jack Manningham. He was brilliantly frightening and captured the two faced character very well. He took the character on the transition from likeable to feared very very well. He has wonderful chemistries with Kara Tointon as Bella and Charlotte Blackledge at various points in the show.
Keith Allen (Robin Hood, Death in Paradise, Between the Lines) played the mystical character of Rough brilliantly. He also added some small bits of comedy and he had a wonderful rapport with Kara Tointon. He was likeable from the off and really did bring this character life very well.
Kara Tointon (Pygmalion, The Halcyon, The Sound of Music Live, Mr Selfridge, Eastenders) was Bella Manningham and she definitely stole the show. She really gave a very memorable performance in this complex role. Her madness comes across brilliantly but she doesn’t bring it too over the top. Her complete dedication to this character is admirable from a drama student’s point of view. She really becomes the character.
This entire cast really work together as a whole and I’m sure a lot of this is down to some great direction from Anthony Banks (After Miss Julie, DNA, Raz) who was assisted by Peter Bradley (Resident director of Sheffield Theatres in 2014/15)
I would completely recommend you go and see this brilliant play. Unless you just go to the theatre for a fun night out. Then don’t. It is dark, I wouldn’t quite call it a thriller, but it is full of tense moments.
Gaslight runs at Sheffield Lyceum until 25th February before touring to Malvern, London and Cardiff.
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