Afraid of the Dark
Charing Cross Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 10th September 2013
"When the lights are off, you can't see what it is that you're afraid of." This is why, even though I am far too old to sleep with the light on, a part of me will always be scared of the dark.
This is the message that the anonymous writer of 'Afraid of the Dark' is trying to explain - not one of us is actually afraid of night-time, or a room with no light. It is the unknown, that which we cannot see, that terrifies us. So, with a sense of foreboding, the audience sits in the theatre beneath Charing Cross Station, the rumbling of trains only adding to the mystery and suspense that we are feeling.
Unsurprisingly, the play begins with a piercing scream, making every female in the room shriek, giggle and jump. The theatre is pitch black and hearts are visibly beating... But is 'Afraid of the Dark' actually scary?
The story itself is clever, exploring the effect that films had on vaudeville and theatre. Henry Charlier (Julian Forsyth) is an illusionist whose career has dwindled since the arrival of the horror movie. Terror now comes from monsters on the big screen, rather than from clever tricks and mind games. Yet when Charlier appears in Hollywood, he still manages to get inside people's heads and terrify them, reaching into their past so that their fears and memories resurface.
The play switches between Charlier's stage show and 1940s/50s Hollywood; it is in Hollywood where the main story is set. Unfortunately, these main scenes struggle to match the bangs, flashes and strange occurrences that make us jump during Charlier's theatrical act.
The play's characters are also slightly weak. John Guerrasio gives a good performance as Bernstein and Forsyth is suitably creepy as Charlier, but we cannot warm to the other characters who are very much lacking in personality, even though the other actors try to bring them to life.
In fact, the story itself seems lacking and doesn't seem to be going anywhere, until the other characters meet Charlier and he starts to get under their skin and infiltrate their dreams. These dreams are staged well, with illusions enough to flummox even the most sceptical of audiences, and the spine chilling music (by Ennis Thompson) coaxes the hairs on the back of our neck as we watch with baited breath to see what will happen.
Although the production is unusual, particularly the 4D aspect, it is more the anticipation of what could happen in this play that makes it scary. The idea is a strong one and the effects and illusions are very clever, but the writer clearly relies on 'smoke and mirrors' to carry the play, struggling for an ending and resorting to suicides and homicides to finish the story.
I did jump several times and at one point couldn't even watch because I expected to see something grotesque. However, I wasn't terrified and I don't think it will give me nightmares... but I might leave the light on anyway - just in case!
Reviewed by Michaela Clement-Hayes
Afraid of the Dark runs at the Charing Cross Theatre until 26th October 2013.
Click here to book tickets (top price seats reduced to £21.50 at certain performances).
I thought it was very amateurish. Good premise, but let down by poor stage management and limited actors.
ReplyDeleteAnd Sean Robertson is clear a dick head.
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