Suddenly at Home

This play is a thriller set in the 1970s. The curtains opened onto Glenn and Maggie Howard’s lounge, and the action remained in this one set throughout.  The two sofas were well placed on either side of the stage, with drinks table down right and telephone up left behind one sofa. Of the two of these, the telephone is the most significant, as it is used frequently to build tension and further the plot, so it may have been interesting to have reversed these two items of furniture. Had the telephone been down stage, we could have better seen the reactions both of the actor using the phone, and the other characters in the room. There was an archway stage right to an imaginary hallway and front door, so that entrances and exits into the flat were not seen and this added to the tension as we were never sure who was about to enter the room. An upstage door lead to the bedrooms and gave a good impression of depth, as did the upstage window with city skyline. There was a door left which led to the kitchen. Whilst the set did not have a strong 70s ‘feel’ it was furnished and dressed with great attention.

Curtains were pulled between scenes but these intervals were suitably brief and the music played was appropriate. The changing time of day was well indicated with the lighting of the standard lamp and the changes in light from the window.  Sound effects (doorbell, phone) were well timed and the noises off were convincing. Props seemed authentic. The ‘lighting’ and ‘smoking’ of the artificial cigarettes didn’t quite work. The pouring of drinks was well handled. Costumes were mostly very good and in period, although the programme notes inform us that it was January and therefore some heavier outer clothes could have been in evidence. Maggie’s wig was perhaps a little unflattering but hair and make up were generally in keeping. The action of the play opens with a scene between the two sisters, who displayed an easy camaraderie which seemed entirely comfortable and natural. Other characters were introduced, and the supposed normality created a good contrast to the terrible events that were to follow. The slightly awkward tension displayed by Sheila in the first scene hinted nicely that things were not as they seemed. The early interplay between Glenn and Maggie demonstrated their relationship well and the murder was performed with realistic violence and was therefore quite shocking. The moments of intimacy between Glenn and his ‘lovers’ were less convincing. There was a good sense of suspense created, and more variations in pace could have enhanced this further. There was a tendency for actors to ‘signal’ the end of a scene by over-pointing the final line, but the climactic moments within scenes and the numerous plot twists were predominantly well portrayed. Characterisation and accents were well maintained which served to make the characters very believable.

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