The Taxidermist's Daughter

This macabre play set in Fishbourne, Sussex in 1912 is a very dark play about ghosts, murder, violence, retribution, justice, drowning and blackmail. It also has the inclusion of a group of four misogynists and a fifth unwilling accomplice and the way their cruel treatment of girls was atoned for. The first act is a little confusing and it is difficult to see where the plot is heading. Once act two commences, the full storyline is a lot easier to follow. The final scene, one of happiness, is actually quite unexpected but makes a very clever contrast to the majority of the action.

The two main female characters are Connie Gifford (Lauren Whedbee) and Cassie Pine (Kelly Verstappen). The part of Connie was brilliantly played in the guise of a girl who is the daughter of a taxidermist with a drink problem and no income, so enforcing his daughter to follow in his trade. The other girl, Cassie, was also played with aplomb as the disturbed girl, her mind ruined by the by actions by the Corvid Club (the misogynists).  

The four men causing great angst to Cassie and others were Gerald White (Andrew Wesby), Charles Crowther (Anthony Leigh), Dr. Jack Woolston (H. Reeves) and Frederick Brook (Tim Ingram). These were respected as pillars of the community and looked up to by the general populus as their dark deeds were not generally known. They all characterised well the business community of the area.  Crowley Gifford (Frank Horsley) was the man who realised the dreadful atrocities that the other four had committed and was doing his best to make things a little better under the otherwise threat of blackmail. Crowley is the taxidermist of the story and his daughter Connie was unaware of his minimal involvement and also his attempts to put the situation right.

Six other persons convincingly acted  who helped us as the truth was being brought to light were Dr.Jack Woolston’s son Harry  (Harry W. Freeman), Davey Reedman (Jimmy Schofield), Mrs. Jennie Christie (Claire Coull), her daughter Mary Christie (Kirstie Dolphin), Sergeant Pennicott (Pete Sherwood-Plumb) and Rhys Bloy (Gregory Joseph). The murdered woman was Vera Baker (Laura Witham), another victim of the Corvid club.

On the technical side, there were efficient scene changes and complicated projections on a backcloth of Connie’s returning memories . The scenery was mainly dark and Victorian which was in keeping for the mood of the plot - that is until the last scene I referenced to earlier where a happy event was taking place. Costumes were befitting the era.

Although a sombre, sensitive and difficult subject for a piece of theatre it was dealt with sincerely by both the author and the acting skills of all the cast who well complemented the action. Their society should be very proud of them. Congratulations.      

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