Last Saturday night I had the enormous privilege of seeing Gaslight (expertly directed by Lucy Bailey) on-stage at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham.
This play was fantastic – I highly recommend going to see it if you are able. The set is beautifully realised and intricately designed; the play all takes place in this one room of this middle-class Victorian house, but they have transparent walls and ceilings so that you can see the actors moving beyond this room. This does wonders for the tension when you are aware of things that the characters are not. The sound designs were excellent as well, even if I was punched in the face three times by jump scares.
The cast are all excellent, for the most part. Bella Manning, played by Charlotte Emmerson, was probably the character I had the most difficulty believing; there were some strange acting choices in the vein of overly theatrical and large movements, but it was a gamble I think paid off as I was used to it and applauding by the end. James Wilby as Jack Manning was precisely as creepy and sinister in his movements as his character needed to be; I was genuinely afraid for the other characters when they were in his presence – particularly if they were alone (despite having been a huge fan of this play since I was a kid and therefore knowing the final outcome). However, I struggled occasionally to make out what he was saying as he tended towards speaking rather quickly. Martin Shaw as Inspector Rough was an absolute fucking delight even if, thankfully, his accent emigrated from Yorkshire to Ireland by the second act. He stole every single scene and added some much-needed levity to the proceedings. Mary Chater and Georgia Clarke-Day also performed admirably as Elizabeth the cook and Nancy the maid respectively and I was engaged totally whenever they appeared onstage.
The first two acts may progress a little slowly for some (I personally was a bit hesitant during the first one myself because of my hearing issues), but the third act brought its absolute A-game and was tense, funny, and cathartic to the extent that I left the theatre grinning ear-to-ear after gripping the railing so hard that my knuckles turned white.
So, I would highly, highly recommend seeing this show and – in my opinion – trying to see it before it gets to the West End because sometimes ironing out the kinks in a show makes for a more organic and entertaining experience.
IMMATURE OUT-OF-CONTEXT SPOILER REVIEW
· Five minutes in and I already am set to challenge Mr Manning to fisticuffs.
· Manning, you are a bastard. Bella. Kill him.
· IT TIS I, INSPECTOR ROUGH, YOUR LORD AND SAVIOUR IN A HALO OF LIGHT.
· I’ll wait for you to pull yourself together. *waits dramatically*. *Waits dramatically*. *OK, it’s awkward now*.
· Where the feck in Ireland are you from Rough?
· NEVER MIND, HE’S A GODDAMN DELIGHT.
· ROUGH IS FRIEND-SHAPED.
· “Who the fuck are you and why are you in my house?” “Let me explain in the most convoluted manner I possibly can while stealing the remains of your tea.”
· Rough has ADHD, there is no other explanation.
· “I have medicine, but I hate it and it doesn’t work.” “You haven’t tried my medicine!” “What’s that?” “WHISKEY”
· This was the first laugh from the audience and it was glorious.
· Creepypasta reveal: “IT WAS THIS HOUSE ALL ALONG!”
· Oh, good. He’s Irish now.
· *Takes off his coat* Rough: Am I not a fine figure of a man? *strikes a pose* Bella: Self-love is great but concentrate ffs.
· I aspire to have as much fun as Shaw is having oh my god.
· “It is my great regret in life that I never became one of two things. The first being a gardener and the second –“ *produces a set of lockpicks* - “A burglar!”
· (About to break into a secret compartment inside the locked drawer) “This always makes me feel like a dentist.” *cue wild arm movements no dentist should ever do*
· His elbow was briefly possessed. Hysterics.
· Rough you need a new dentist. Please. Change dentists.
Did I mention that Martin Shaw is a delight?
· Bella *long speech about how she knows her husband is upstairs because of the light changes* *light changes* Bella: The lights! Rough: Wait, I was supposed to remember something about the lights?? Bella: ROUGH YOU’RE USELESS.
· Elizabeth the cook is the only person who can keep her head.
· Rough: ELIZABETH HIDE ME. I FUCKED UP.
· Rough hides in a closet. Three times. He keeps reappearing to give instructions and to move chairs.
· Manning: I only returned to change my linen. Elizabeth: CAN I FETCH YOU ONE SIR. TOTALLY NOT BECAUSE I’M HIDING AN EX-POLICEMAN IN YOUR CLOSET.
· Two dudes in a walk-in wardrobe five feet apart ‘cause they’re not gay.
· Manning: Oh, I don’t like this one. I’ll get another. *Walks back into the closet*
· Elizabeth is the real hero here.
· Manning: Would you testify to the police, Elizabeth? Elizabeth: With fucking pleasure, sir.
· Martin Shaw: I have made an acting choice for frustration! *fondles the air at crotch height*
· Sir. You made a choice. It was… a choice.
· It’s a meme among my friends now for frustration.
· Bella finds the evidence by following logic and I love her.
· Rough: Have you ever been embraced by an old detective? Bella: … no? Rough: Well, get ready, this is your immediate future.
· Jack Manning and Nancy necking somewhat randomly – saucy…?
· I felt like he was going to strangle her at any moment.
· No! Bella! DON’T BE ALONE WITH HIM
· Also, I was promised a dog. No good bois.
· ROUGH EMERGES FROM THE CLOSET – I WON’T SAY SYMBOLISM BUT SYMBOLISM.
· How did he get in there? Like, it’s explained, but I don’t like the explanation.
· Hi, I’m a ghost. I’m running with this theme.
· WOULD YOU LIKE A CIGURR??
· Yes, show the murderous villain the jewels he’s been searching twenty years for while (apparently) alone. Balls, man. Balls.
· You go, Bella! You get him back! The end is fantastic (save a weird jumpscare of Manning hanging. That was… kinda stupid.)
