Review by Paul Towers, 21/10/24
Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton
Directed by John Ghent
Produced by Leicester Drama Society
At The Little Theatre until Saturday 26th
October
gaslighting
[ gas-lahy-ting ]
noun
1. the use of psychological manipulation to undermine a
person’s faith in their own judgment, memory, or sanity:
Just in time for Hallowe’en this Victorian chiller
is at The Little Theatre for a week.
If you thought that coercive controlling
behaviour was a modern phenomenon then this 100 year old psychological tale
will change your mind.
Set in 1880’s London, a time of fogs and gas
lighting, the devastating effects of a husband’s deviousness is superbly played
out in a Victorian drawing room. Bella (Joy Brankin-Frisby) is superb as the
wife convinced she is going mad like her late mother. She is married to Jack
Manningham (John Moulding) menacingly effective as the husband using every
trick in the book to drive her insane. He hides things from his increasingly hysterical
spouse and accuses her of losing them.
The title of the play comes from the fact that
the domestic gas supply is so weak that when lamps are lit in one part of the
house everywhere is dimmed. Bella has noticed that some time before her husband
returns from his mysterious daily disappearances the lights dim. Minutes after
they brighten again, he returns.
It isn’t until the unexpected arrival on her
doorstep of Rough (Paul Large), an ex-policeman, do Bella and he start to unravel the mystery.
Add into this toxic household a couple of maids. Elderly Elizabeth (Katy Weaver)
is well aware of how nasty her Master is but as a lowly housemaid feels there
is little she can do. Flighty young Nancy (Chloe Drury) has her own agenda
while she cosies up to her sadistic employer.
It isn’t until two policemen (Jon Worthy
& Kaz Vafaie) are summoned that justice is finally done.
A magnificent set by Phil Newman and
atmospheric lighting by Jeremy Thompson bring this spooky drama to life.
Gaslight is at The Little Theatre until
Saturday 26th October
Pics: Poyner + Mee
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