GAS LIGHT. Victorian thriller by Patrick Hamilton. Directed by Richard Higgs. Set by Higgs. Costumes Higgs and Barbara Basel. Lighting/sound John and Margi Blewett. Presented by the Muizenberg Amateur Dramatic Society. At The Masque Theatre, from Thursday to Saturday. SHEILA CHISHOLM reviews.
SCARS carried by physical abuse are no greater than those inflicted by verbal and emotional abuse. A big difference is verbal and emotional wounds aren’t visible, heal with greater difficulty, and totally undermine the psyche of the abused.
While each sex is just as capable of abusing, it is more often the man who holds that balance of power. And it is a power game – unfortunately as prevalent today as it was in Victorian days when women, without a bolt hole, were “born” to live dependent on men-folk.
English playwright and novelist Patrick Hamilton chose this theme for his melodrama and best known play, Gas Light. Set in London in the 1800’s, action takes place in the drab lower-middle class home of Jack Manningham (Neil van Bergen) and his wife Bella (Jenny Brandt).
Their household comprises motherly housekeeper Elizabeth (Helen Mathers) and Nancy (Aimee McGregor) their prett, flighty, housemaid.
Into the picture comes ex-Detective Rough (Mike Dewar) on the prowl for the murderer of wealthy Alice Barlow and her jewels.
For his own reasons, Jack is slowly trying to drive Bella insane. He blames her for hiding a picture, mysterious noises, flickering gas lights, the loss of her brooch, watch and an all important bill. Yet, she has no recollection of being responsible for any of these happenings.
To say more is to give the plot away. Suffice, had director Richard Higgs undertaken judicious dialogue trimming, a much greater impact at the dramatic events and denouement would have been achieved.
As it was, lengthy speeches, coming across with minimal vocal colour or understanding of Hamilton’s Victorian characters, left a weak overall impression.
Higgs direction drew from Van Bergen a characterisation more haughty than sinister. Moving and speaking in a contrived (almost caricature) manner, Dewar’s Rough bore little resemblance to a policeman’s natural authoritative bearing or commanding presence.
Newcomer McGregor’s promise will progress once she sheds self-consciousness and learns to move in character.
Brandt’s Bella held semblances of a brow-beaten woman fighting for her sanity.
However, Higgs, by not encouraging vocal light and shade, limiting her moves to clutching her shawl, sitting down or walking to and fro, didn’t adequately help her express her physical or mental distress at Jack’s ongoing accusations and belittling remarks.
Tapping into her wide stage experience Mathers crafted a cameo of a loyal housekeeper, sympathetic towards her mistress, concerned by her master’s behaviour.
Hamilton’s Gas Light hits home the destructive effects abuse has. However, as a play or production, this doesn’t rank highly against the many excellent ones presented at The Masque Theatre.
l Tickets: from R60, 021 788 1898, e-mail bookings@masquethe atre.co.za