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Mind over murder
GASLIGHT
Old Vic Theatre
PATRICK Hamilton is best remembered for Gaslight and Rope. In Rope, two young men murder another to prove that they are not bound by conventional morality. They stuff him in a large chest. There was not a single visible act of violence in the play, yet it deeply shocked audiences.
Gaslight can be even more sinister and unnerving. Set in 1880 London the character of Jack Manningham (Andrew Woodall) has brought a large Victorian house – and the house next door. It could be Islington or Pimlico. It is heavily decorated and, of course, has the essential deferential housekeeper and her saucy maid Nancy.
His wife Bella (Rosamund Pike) is dutiful and submissive, and is unaware that he is plotting to make her lose her mind. He connives to make the gas lights flicker nightly – not a good token for the already nervous Bella.
Enter Detective Rough (Kenneth Cranham), who tells her the grisly tale of the murder of an old lady who lived in that very room 20 years ago. The violent murderer ransacked the house but failed to find her most valuable jewel – a gem worth £12,000.
Bella’s saviour, Rough, believes his persistence investigating the case has paid off and Manningham is the killer.
Andrew Woodall is cornering the market in villainy. Rosamund Pike handles her imposed neurosis in the manner of Victorian well bred lady.
Kenneth Cranham does a reprise of Inspector Calls – a quirky character of stolid London Victorian gumshoe.
His little jokes and mannerism added to the reality.
Like most detectives – from Sherlock Holmes to Inspector Morse – he is skilled in the art of house breaking and, of course, sees Justice triumph. The rope awaits the murderer. Hamilton’s brilliant construction is masterly.
Peter Gill, one of our most erudite directors, treads the fine line between the melodrama and the ingrained hypocrisy, which is part of Manningham’s psychopathic gender.
It was heartening to hear the audience boo the villain at the curtain – he had convinced them at least of his wicked ways.
This excellent production runs to two hours, which take place in an evocative, stuffy claustrophobic drawing room, set with deadly accuracy by designer Hayden Griffin.
Until August 18
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