Night Must Fall

The Marco Players take on Emlyn William’s 1935 play Night Must Fall - a psychological thriller set in the sitting room of Mrs Bramson. The play has also been adapted into a film three times and also a radio play. Emlyn Willaims both actor and writer throughout his life won stardom with this play.

The lighting is moody as we enter the hall. The set is in muted warm colours and wooden dado rail with old-fashioned wooden wheelchair is centre stage. To Stage Right is a door leading to another room and dining table and chairs set with tea things and the tea pot covered in a knitted tea cosy. Stage Left is a two-seater settee with cushion and lace throw over the back. Down Stage Left is a velvet dining chair with floor plant behind it. Stage Left is a door into the kitchen then beside it on the wall is a safe and wooden bureau. At the back of the set Stage Right is a window with garden view and then a small porch that leads to the outside door. Stage Right is the start of a corridor leading to Mrs Bramson’s bedroom and on the back of the wall is the medicine cabinet. The set is then adorned with window seat, shelves with bric-a-bac and books. Oil lamps on the wall together with various pictures around the room. The set looks busy and gives the feel of things collected over the years. The window has plush burgundy velvet curtain that also goes across the small porch. The curtain also matches the main curtain to the stage. Set Design and Build Janice Lyon, David Holt, John Lyon, David Cieszynski and Colin Nelson. Props all looked in keeping even down to the toby jug used. Properties by Judith Leigh and Simon Mott. Lighting and Sound helped make it atmospheric - Lighting John Lyon and Sound Christine Brooks.

Costumes all looked good and Hubert Laurie outfits including his plus fours looked splendid. The ladies were well attired and Olivia Grayne had some great outfits including her outdoor costume complete with hat - I think it would have been the icing on the cake to have had her hair a little less modern, maybe with curls or possible finger waves. Wardrobe Carolyn Haslam and Judith Leigh.

Simon Mott directs and as we walk into the hall the mood setting is clear. We hear a voice-over at the beginning as a prologue set in the court voiced clearly by Nigel Cropper. A bright light is shone revealing Dan the protagonist in the porch doorway of the sitting room. Giving a taste of things to come. The tension is built up to a crescendo at the end and we were on the edge of our seats as Dan worms his way through the plot. It must be 35 years since I last saw this play and it stands the test of time.

Nurse Libby is played by Janice Lyon and as nurses of the day always ready with a nip of brandy and the patience of a saint with Mrs Bramson. Dorothy Parkoe is played by Natalie Clearly and gets the short change in all this: pregnant by Dan then actually ignored by him when he comes to live at the house where she works. Inspector Belsize is played by the capable Mark Weatherall, we are never really sure if he is on to Dan or it’s just a stroke of luck he gets his man. His mannerisms reminded me of Bill Nighy.

Hubert Laurie is played by Alfred Howard who is a bit shocked to discover that Olivia finds him boring. Well, he is one of those people who read the newspaper out loud. Good r.p. accent, I think Alfred did a great job and could even have pushed the comedy more as he had fun with his character. Mrs Bramson played by Carolyn Haslam a hard part to play as in there is nothing to like about her as she is a self-pitying fussy, often a bully. Clearly bored with her life until all the excitement hits the village. She makes a big mistake in the faith she puts in Dan and that is her downfall. Her face lights up at everything he suggests and she loves the attention. Hats off to Carolyn for dealing with the difficult-to-manoeuvre wheelchair as it did add to the period of the piece.

Siobhan Edge played Mrs Terence the no nonsense housekeeper and the only person to stand up to Mrs Bramson. Her timing was great and she really contributed to lightening the mood. Some great one-liners delivered throughout and working well with the rest of the cast.

Louise Davenport played Olivia Grayne, the put-upon niece. Olivia susses out Dan early on and her love-hate relationship with him is played out well. You could see the inner turmoil she was having and the attraction she had for him and almost fascination like a moth to a flame. Again good r.p. accent. Working well together with Dan, played by Andrew Cropper who fitted the nickname ‘babyface.’ Entering smoking which immediately gives us a sense of his character, he is quick to assess the situation and ingratiate himself to Mrs Bramson’s household. Andrew does not over-play this - we are gently teased with the character as to how manipulative he is. At the end of Act 1 we are given a hint. Andrew builds the character of Dan who admits he is acting. So that is an actor playing a character acting in everyday life - complicated! When he caresses Mr Bramson’s neck, it sent a shudder down my spine - the teasing and the looks the internal thoughts all played out - effective and convincing with Welsh accent.

Thank you to The Marco Players for the invite and hospitality from my guest Angela and I.

Liz Hume-Dawson

District 5 Rep.

 

 

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