Perth Cranks Up the Suspense with Angel Street (gaslight)

 

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

PERTH, Ont. — The Perth Classic Theatre Festival has come up trumps with a sizzling revival of Patrick Hamilton’s renowned psychological thriller, Angel Street.

Director Laurel Smith and an excellent cast steadily crank up the tension in the production that opened on the weekend. But Smith never loses sight of the fact that Hamilton’s 1938 play about a vicious  husband who is steadily driving his wife towards madness is also an unsettling study in character. In fact, it was this latter aspect that was seized on by actress Ingrid Bergman for her Oscar-winning performance in the 1944 movie, released under the title of Gaslight.

At Perth, actress Jessica Sherman has us genuinely caring for Bella Manningham, the psychologically damaged wife in thrall to a husband who has been subtly destroying her sense of self-worth and self= confidence and bringing her to the point where she fears she is losing her mind.

In its opening moments Hamilton’s play shows remarkable skill in the economy with which it defines the situation existing in this sinister  household. And the production takes full advantage of the opportunities presented. There’s an undefinable unease as soon as the stage lights rise to reveal the gloomy late Victorian parlour which, in its attention to detail and atmosphere, represents another triumph by set designer Roger Schultz, a Perth regular. And as the evening progresses, the lighting of Wesley McKenzie makes its own contribution to the suspense.

And who do we see at the beginning? There’s the languid figure of Jack Manningham reclining on the settee — as confident as a cat playing with a mouse in his control over the troubled figure of Bella who’s also in the room, waiting to learn whether she’s in for words of kindness this afternoon or whether she must endure further psychological abuse.

For a moment, she thinks something happy is in store for her because Jack is promising to take her out of this oppressive Pimlico house for an evening of entertainment. But then, over tea, her hopes are suddenly dashed as she is confronted again with evidence of her growing mental instability.

By this time, two exemplary performances are taking hold. Jessica Sherman, poignant in her depiction of a flickering joy suddenly crushed, exudes a terrible vulnerability. And Jeffrey Aarles, honey-tongued and manipulative, quietly confident of his power over a fragile wife, is a frightening presence.

But what agenda is driving Jack Manningham to destroy Bella’s sanity? The answers will start emerging with the arrival on the scene of a retired policeman named Rough, performed with  engaging gusto by Sheldon Davis. The mystery deepens as the spectre of an unsolved murder committed more than a decade previously moves to centre stage. But even at its most suspenseful moments, and there are plenty of those at Perth, there’s always the reality of high stakes involving human lives

Excellent performances from  Darla Biccum and Lauren Horejda as two household servants further testify to the quality of the production, the best of Perth’s current season.

 

The classic Theatre Festival production of Angel Street 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

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