The Deep Blue Sea

Bolton Little Theatre take on Terence Rattigan’s play "The Deep Blue Sea", originally about the breakdown of his own relationship. He was persuaded to rewrite it to have a broader feel, as when it was written homosexuality was illegal. The themes of love and its struggles are universal and explored in the play. The Deep Blue Sea was first performed in 1952 in the West End it went on to be a tv adaptation and a film with various famous names taking on the roles of Hester and Freddie. Terence Rattigan plays are still very popular today.

Walking into the Forge Theatre we are met with a two-seater fawn and pink settee, armchair with cushions on a red and black rug. On one side is a narrow sideboard with telephone and opposite is a fire.  On the Upstage and only wall in the Forge are two dark brown doors. One to the hall and outside and the other to the kitchen and bedroom. The wall has a green and pink wall paper with signs of ageing and peeling with old fashioned light switch. The pink in the wall paper picking out the slight pink in the settee. In between the two doors is another side board with various drinks and glasses on. A large coat-stand with shelf above for hats. A small unit with a vase, picture and letters plus a waste paper bin. Various pictures were then displayed on the wall.  A coffee table in front of the settee complements the set. Set Design Peter Scofield. Set Construction by Jeff Lunt, Helen Livesey, Andrew Gradwell, Peter Bekett, Simon Mott and Steve Butler.

Props were all fitting - Properties by Simon Mott, Helen Livesey, Peter and Laraine Scofield. Costume looked good on the characters. The suits and Hester’s seamed stockings looked great. Wardrobe by Janet Hardman. Sound and Lighting all added to the atmosphere the song Mad About the Boy at the beginning and at the end with between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea. Lighting by Gareth Preston and Sound by Jim Walton.

Peter Scofield directs and the r.p. accents worked with the exception of the characters Mr Miller and Mrs Elton who had other accents. More of them later. The set is used well and the actors moved around the set easily. This play is not for the fainted hearted with its themes and it is testament to director and cast that the pace was kept up and the suspense and intrigue played just right in the exploration of suicide, depression and unrequited love.

Tom Wilson takes on the role of Jackie Jackson friend to Freddie who gets more than he bargained for and tries make a quick exit.  He is subjected to unleashing of emotions from Freddie including the reading of the suicide letter. You are squirming with him at his embarrassment and hearing Freddie vent.

Eleanor Maxwell plays Ann Welch the well-meaning nosey neighbour who sets off a chain of events which isn’t helpful upon finding Hester. A difficult part to play but I liked when she came in at the end concerned about where her husband was. It said so much about the marriage and what was not said, just with facial expressions. Her husband Philip Welch was played by Alfred Howard who also gets more than he bargained for when he helps out. Alfred had a natural ease on set and allowed the character to come to life with comedy moments too.

Carol Butler plays Mrs Elton - busy body and she kept letting secrets slip out with East End accent she tells Hester that she is her favourite tenant. Which is good as Hester cannot afford the rent. Carol’s character while dishing out the gossip came across that she genuinely cared for her tenants. She relished in the fact she knew about Mr Miller.

Chris Dunn played Mr Miller who saves Hester not once but twice. He is mysterious and Mrs Elton lets slip he has been struck off the medical register although he still treats her husband. It is said by critics that Mr Miller was struck off for homosexuality and his name was Muller before he changed it. Chris has a German accent which adds to the intrigue.  We do not know why Rattigan chose for us not to know but it adds to the drama. He is Hester’s saviour, he tells her “Learn to live without love or purpose as he does” such a telling thing as to how unhappy he is. Chris played it ‘uncomfortable’ when he came on stage which gave another energy and dynamics which added to the atmosphere.

Ben Kilburn plays the angry young man Freddie Page. Struggling with his career and alcohol he has a lot to say and say it he does to anyone. We are given a hint that alcohol affected his last job as a test pilot and they live hand to mouth. I did think that at times Ben could have given less, not shouting all the time just to give some levels to allow some of the text to sink in for audience members. Saying this Ben did give us Freddie the selfish lost young man. Spiralling out of control as he is with a woman with whom I guess is more intelligent and more passionate that him. He makes the hard but right decision and you do get the feeling he has to distance himself or he will weaken and stay, you could see Ben wrestle with this dilemma.

Simon Mott is Sir William Collyer. The stiff upper lip comes to mind and very respectful but I am not sure that’s what Hester wants. He loves his wife in his way and is happy for her to come back, he constantly checks that she is okay. Simon played this role very considered and emotions kept in check. As an audience member you want to say go with him, he will look after you. Great sympathetic character, Simon.

Rebecca Carney takes on the role of Hester the protagonist, the daughter of a vicar and married to a lawyer you think she has it all. Rattigan writes the Hester character as showing us a woman ahead of time, knowing what she wants and not settling for less. She is awakened by Freddie and will not settle, she has the choice to go back to her husband where all will be safe but she has moved on and rejects this. When Freddie rejects her what’s the point in living? We see the drama start with her trying to gas herself and the sound of the gas escaping. Very evocative. Rebecca plays this well, we see a woman in turmoil embarrassed she failed and laughs it off. What is striking is her clinical talk with her husband and her delight as Freddie walks in the room. Almost throwing herself at him.  She is totally infatuated with him. Rebecca gets to grip with this complicated character and at the end when she strikes the match having been saved twice by Mr Miller we are left wondering will she manage to go it alone. She is indeed between the devil and the deep blue sea. We as the audience are left to our own thoughts!

 

Thank you to Bolton Little Theatre for the invite and hospitality from my guest Angela and I.

 

Liz Hume-Dawson

District 5 Rep.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.