REVIEWS REVIEWS
Having never seen nor read Henry James's "wanton little tale" of a governess sent to an isolated country manor, I had no idea what to expect. As it turns out, this was a positive advantage, as it meant that I was completely gripped from the outset. Director Simon Reade has taken James's classic short story, in this new version by Nick Dear, which is strewn with dark occurrences — the mysterious death of the previous governess, ghostly figures walking the grounds — and created a production which engages the audience from start to finish.
At less than 100 minutes long, the production is snappy and tightly structured, with each scene carefully constructed to add to the ever-increasing tension. The imaginative set by David Fielding does not try to physically represent each location, rather, one element is chosen and enlarged to enormous proportions, so that the lake is represented by a watery backdrop, and the school room is boiled down to a huge blackboard. The chequered floor distorts the perspective and adds to the sense of imbalance, and makes this by far the most effective and striking set I have seen for a while.
Ruth Grey gives a convincing performance as the governess who arrives at her new post full of enthusiasm and vigour. A sense of disquiet begins to grow almost from the outset and soon the audience has no idea whether "Miss" has lost her mind or whether the household is inhabited by as many ghosts as mortals. Her perfect charges also soon appear less than ideal, although their "wickedness" is subject to interpretation. Zoë Thorne excels as the young girl the governess watches over, and the rest of the cast are equally impressive.
Henry James's play poses more questions than it answers, and after the chilling climax I found myself debating with my companion over certain aspects. In short, this is a play that creates and builds a sense of tension, which combines strong performances with excellent effects, lighting and set. Even, or perhaps especially, if you're not a James connoisseur, this gripping ghost story will still make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. © KA
“The Turn of the Screw” is in Bristol on the 2nd until the 23th of April, 2005.
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