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ED2012 2/5 Reviews ED2012 Theatre Reviews
The Turn Of The Screw (HookHitch Theatre)
By Christy Brown | Published on Saturday 11 August 2012
As a keen Henry James fan, I approached this one bright-eyed, bushy-tailed… essentially a walking cliché of enthusiasm. Though the period costumes appeared pretty, and the lighting style promising (very chiaroscuro) my hopeful little bubble burst fairly early on. Undoubtedly the female protagonist, with her Jane Austen manners and impeccable poise, was a solitary shining star, demanding audience attention as her character the governess might of her two charges. But many of the supporting roles felt unnecessary, and at times their duties looked to be that of stagehands rather than genuine players. However, the use of lifeless dolls to represent the children, manipulated by their ghostly possessors, was inspired. Sadly though, this adaptation simply felt too subversive to be immersive.
Zoo Southside, 3-12, 14-27 Aug, 12.45pm.
tw rating 2/5 | [Christy Brown]