REVIEW: Gaslight at The Playground Theatre

Patrick Hamilton’s Gaslight, first presented in Richmond in 1938, is set in the house of a Victorian couple, Jack and Bella Manningham (Jordan Wallace, Jemima Murphy). Gaslight was the first artistic representation of psychological and domestic abuse, with the name being used to describe the behaviour to this day. As Director Imy Wyatt Corner notes, the play is scarily accurate of the emotional abuse seen in Love Island and even Strictly Come Dancing.

Mrs Cunningham desperately wants to please her unimpressed husband but has been having forgetful moments and is being driven to believe she is going insane; pictures on the wall and important paperwork have gone missing and been found hidden away in her possession. Narcissistic Mr Cunningham mysteriously leaves the house each night, crazing his wife as she hears footsteps upstairs. Despite the maids- loyal Elizabeth (Rebecca Ashley) and flirtatious Nancy (Grace Howard)- potentially knowing of the horrors going on in the house, this chilling situation is only intervened when a man, known as Rough (Joe Mcardle), arrives at the house one day to unveil secrets and save Mrs Cunningham from her own mind. 

REVIEW: Gaslight at the Watford Palace Theatre

A play-within-a-play set in a women’s refuge, this production of Patrick Hamilton’s Gaslight boasts an all-female cast. The cast are all escaping domestic abuse at home and perform Hamilton’s classic thriller in the living room of their refuge while stage directions are read out through a microphone in true Brechtian style.

Hamilton’s writing is suspenseful and exciting whilst being somewhat predictable due to its simple structure, but this doesn’t take away from the standout performances of the night. Sally Tatum takes on the role of Bella Manningham, the downtrodden and abused wife of the man of the house, Jack Manningham (Jasmine Jones). Tatum’s performance stays honest and true throughout which is no easy task with so much fear, anger and distress in a character. 

Inspector Rough, traditionally an older gentleman, is portrayed by Tricia Kelly who tackles the confident, strong and humble Inspector with ease and joy.