The Turn of the screw

  The Turn of the screw.. Carlton Players 24/01/1018 Little Theatre Birkenhead

This is a fascinating play as is the original story posing as it does many questions most of which have no definite answer; indeed many distinguished writers and critics have tried unsuccessfully to find one. All such attempts to 'solve' the story, however admiringly tendered, unwittingly work toward its diminution; its pleasure lies in the clever way James himself refuses to come down on either side

Both the play and the book are a monument to the bold pursuit of ambiguity.

The play opens with Miss Grey being interviewed for a position of Governess a situation for which she had no experience. She decides to take up the challenge offered by her would be employer Mr Crimond played by Gareth Griffiths . We were not see this gentleman after the immediate start of the action but his presence is always there; I think many in the audience expected him to rejoin the plot; he did not although he lingered on the edge of our thinking. His condition that she was never to contact him and reference to the mysterious tower only added to the feeling this was where the mystery lay.

The main issue now stems from the relationship between Miss Grey(Jade Franks) and Miss Grose (Jill Breckon) who is the incumbent housekeeper. Jade Franks caught the character of Miss Grey extremely well in the way she handled the transition from an uncertain beginning to the stronger person she eventually becomes. Jill Breckon brought Miss Grose to life appearing to never quite being sure of the new governess but always needful of her own position in the household. It is the children who make the relationship difficult. Both characters want to protect them. Miss Grose can see no wrong in them despite evidence to the contrary in the case of the boy whilst Miss Grey is never entirely sure about the effect of the dark forces which she believes surround them..

It is the advent of the apparitions which bring matters to a head although it is only Miss Grey of the play’s characters who ever sees them. Does the tower hide some dark secret; although she has the key we do not feel that she has been able to venture there. She is able to find out some details of the two “ghosts” by dint of questioning Miss Grose but there always seems to be reluctance on the latter’s part to face these questions. Obsession drives the governess to fear for the children, are the spirits trying to steal the children’s souls? Miss Grose worries too but more from the actions of Miss Grey. The question then becomes is she hiding secrets? Henry James uses this ploy cleverly by insinuating certain factors but never quite insisting on their significance

What of the children? Grace Bradley plays Flora the younger sibling and does it very well. One is given the impression that she is the one in the least danger. On the other hand Miles played by Charles Knowles manages to cleverly convey throughout his role that there is something strange about him. Is he the intended victim of evil spirits; the author drops hints but they are no more than hints. Why was he expelled from school? The red herrings abound.

Kevin Wallace and Vicky Lodge played the ghosts most effectively; silent but menacing.

The very nature of the play with all it’s ambiguities surely made this a difficult piece to Direct but Elaine Stewart made an excellent job of doing so and she made the most of her talented cast. It would have been interesting to talk to members of the audience to ascertain what they made of the play. Henry James has given us a puzzle which cannot be solved.

 

 

 

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