Gaslight

I want to start by mentioning the set for this production as it was as much a star of the show as the cast themselves. I always feel that, due to the size of the auditorium, the audience is a silent participant in the action at the Phoenix and this was no exception. The set was everything I remembered of the old black and white film I saw many years ago. The working double doors at the rear opened to expose stairs and a hall and was used well. The sitting room was dressed in the most tasteful manner with even a chenille tablecloth over the dining room table and a fireplace with mantle on which ornaments had been placed. On either side of the mantle were two strategically placed gas lights (electric obviously) which were controlled simultaneously as the actors turned the lights up and down; timing and acting in perfect sync. The lighting was just right, adding to the atmospheric gloom that the title depicted.

The small cast moved the play along at a great pace. Amanda Smith convinced me that, as Bella Manningham, she was a wife who was slowly going mad because of the devious machinations of her manipulative and menacing husband, superbly played by Gareth Wigg. As their portrayal of tormenter and victim unfolded, the audience felt both uncomfortable and outraged in equal measure. Michelle Cooper added to this tension as the parlour maid Nancy who openly ridiculed the wife and had a brilliant sneer that was aimed at the wife but seen face front by the audience. Jacky Bedford as Elizabeth the Housekeeper, acted in a nice and gentle way that showed the empathy she felt for her mistress. Rough, the retired Police Inspector, was played by Brian Jackson who, having directed the play, stepped in to take on this role himself due to illness just two weeks before the show opened. I have no idea what the previous cast member would have been like, but Brian was perfect for the part. He was utterly convincing as the man who was going to protect the vulnerable Bella. His timing and delivery, particularly in the final scene, when unveiling his knowledge of the history of the house and previous owner, was brilliant. 

The cast performances were slick, polished and a joy to watch. I loved the production in its entirety and the attention to detail was spectacular. Thank you Phoenix.

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