“Writer/director Richard Hillier has made some tough decisions in dealing with the material from James’ novella…which challenges notions of brutality in the name of “good”“
Kate Stratford
3.5 ghostly moans
Seymour Centre
Playing to 12th August
Henry’s James The Turn of the Screw is more than just a gothic horror tale; it is an exploration of psychological conditions being mistaken for supernatural phenomenon. In this case, the governess’ trauma and shame of her own childhood abuse causes her to misunderstand the trauma experienced by the children in her care, with tragic consequences.
Reveal a young woman (Lucy Lock) sent to govern two charming but unwanted children Flora (Kim Clifton) and Miles (Jack Richardson). Their behaviour veers, at times to distinctly odd and inappropriate. The pastoral idyll quickly dissolves. Abetted by the housekeeper (Martelle Hammer) the governess believes the children to be haunted or possessed by the evil, salacious spirits of previous employees of the estate. Is she mad or right? Her attempt to save them results in the further traumatising of the girl and the death of the boy. You are
the jury.
The mood is set as soon as you enter the theatre. Hamish Elliot’s rather marvellous set engulfs and a sinister soundscape (Chrysoulla Markkouli) tunes your heartbeat whilst shadowy lighting by Ryan McDonald hints at malevolence lurking. A doll’s house of a manor
sits to one side, and we are meant to believe we are inside it, looking out with the characters. In one particularly effective scene, the manor is in the distance lending perspective as the lake lures the unwary.
It is here where the play is strongest, in the second half. Writer/director Richard Hillier has made some tough decisions in dealing with the material from James’ novella and some play out better than others. There are solid performances, although at times, a little shouty especially in the beginning. Act one was plagued at a one-note pace and the speed of comic moments matched the tense/suspenseful moments, giving no contrast and stealing gravitas. There were no whispers, everything was frenetic. Kudos to the stage crew who executed
some very nifty changes seamlessly.
Tooth and Sinew seems an ideal company name for this sort of work – work which challenges notions of brutality in the name of “good”.
Unfortunately, the inability to accept how trauma in children plays is still with us. In 2021, the Hernandez-Santos family killed a 12-year-old girl in an exorcism and before that, Candace Newmaker was killed during a “re-birthing” or “attachment therapy session” when 4 grown adults rolled her in a blanket, sat on her and tormented her. The gothic horror is still with us.
The Turn of the Screw is playing at The Seymour Centre.
Kate Stratford, Theatre Now
