Angel Street: Taut delivery of evil by gaslight.

Angel Street (Gaslight)  By Patrick Hamilton, Classic Theatre Festival Directed by laurel Smith

Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse that makes victims question their sanity.
The term was adopted after Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 play Gaslight, set in Victorian England in 1880, became an enduring hit after premiering in London.

Two years later, it played in New York as Angel Street (and launched Vincent Price, who played the villain, towards stardom). Then came two movie versions with both titles in use. (The 1940 British movie was called Angel Street, while the 1944 Hollywood version, starring Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer and introducing a young Angela Lansbury was Gaslight.)

Considering the current use of the term gaslighting and the importance of flickering gaslights to the plot of Hamilton’s psychological melodrama, Gaslight seems the more effective title.

 

The current production from Classic Theatre Festival in Perth, offers a compromise, billing the show as Angel Street [Gaslight]. However, this is the only aspect of the taut and very entertaining production, directed by Laurel Smith, that could be called undecided.

 

Starting with Roger Schultz’s fine, appropriately oppressive set and Wesley McKenzie’s excellently timed, effective lighting, the production offers well-defined characterizations and a satisfying buildup of suspense.

 

Initially, Jack Manningham (Jeffrey Aarles) seems to be a caring, if somewhat patronizing husband. The illusion is soon dispelled as his menace grows and his increasingly disturbed wife, Bella, (Jessica Sherman) begins to doubt her sanity and believe his interpretation of events.

 

The contrasting bonhomie of the retired detective, Rough (Sheldon Davis) who steps in to help her and solve the 15-year-old murder of the former resident of the Manningham house shines further light on Manningham’s evil intentions. In addition, the two servants, Elizabeth (Darla Biccum), who supports her mistress, and the insolent, flirtatious Nancy (Lauren Horejda), who despises her, deliver another view of the effects of differing attitudes on Bella’s state of mind.

 

Despite the wordiness of some parts of Hamilton’s script, Smith presents a smooth production with a steady increase in tension.

 

The classic Theatre Festival production of Angel Street [Gaslight] continues to September 9.

 

Director: Laurel Smith

Set: Roger Schultz

Lighting: Wesley McKenzie

Sound: Matthew Behrens

Costumes: Renate Seiler

 

Cast:

Jack Manningham…………………………………….Jeffrey Aarles

Bella Manningham……………………………………Jessica Sherman

Rough…………………………………………………Sheldon Davis

Elizabeth………………………………………………Darla Biccum

Nancy…………………………………………………Lauren Horejda