New reviews on our last production of Rebecca
| Dear ISC, Firstly congratulations on the production of Rebecca which I went to see, with some friends, last night at the Theatre Royal. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Secondly I would be interested in possibly auditioning for your forthcoming production of "Comic Potential" and wondered when auditions will be held. With thanks, Victoria Dry |
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"Production does justify to literacy masterpiece" Review by Frank Sheehan. East Anglian Daily Times I MUST admit to having some reservations about a stage adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier’s classic novel Rebecca. It seemed to me to be an incredibly difficult task to recreate this most gripping of novels onstage, and of course there was Alfred Hitchcock’s brilliant film to compare with as well. However this adaptation by Clifford Williams does justice to the original.
Nonetheless it is a great challenge for any director and cast to take this on in this day and age. Much of the lifestyle and attitudes portrayed are of course very dated, but the text has to be taken most seriously, the characters real and not caricatured, and played with complete sincerity throughout. The Irving Stage Company director Maureen Thompson struck exactly the right note and the audience did not have to dream they were again at Manderley reality was impressively achieved. I was particularly struck by her. most imaginative touch of displaying a projected exterior view of Manderley at the start of each scene. With the action being confmed to the great hail this was a masterstroke to give the audience the feel of the whole house. .The set design by Ray Dyer was visually stunning but I was just a little worried by the position of the small sofa at the foot of the stairs. The de Winters both had a problem crossing behind it.
As to the production itself, after a slightly nervy start, the cast settled down and built the tension up to a magnificent second-act crescendo. This group has considerable strength in depth and there wasn’t a weak link to be seen. Clare Lawrance made a lovely newly-wed Mrs de Winter, displaying her gauche and awkward manner to start with, and her inner strength coming to the fore at the end. Her off-line acting and body language were first rate in a most demanding role. Jeremy Roberts as Maxim de Winter gave a very strong performance despite possibly being of slighter build than I would imagine Maxim to be. However his long and moving speech revealing the truth about what happened to his first wife Rebecca was superbly played and quite spellbinding.
The other key role is the sinister housekeeper Mrs Danvers obsessed with her former mistress Rebecca. JoAnne Kaye put her own stamp on this role. Her early under-playing worked a treat, adding much more menace in her later scenes.
The supporting actors were all excellent and I was particularly impressed by Chris Longman as the evil Jack Favell. He had just two relatively short scenes, but what an impact he made. Similarly Dick Hamshere made a instant impression as the bluff Colonel Julyan — a nice bit of character acting here which in less talented hands could have become caricature.
Finally, the fire! After all, Manderley burns to the ground at the end. How was this to be achieved? Technical manager Mark Ireson must, I assume, be congratulated for the excellent effects to bring a memorable show to its conclusion.
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Review From Gayle Wade, Bury Free Press
LAST night I dreamed I was in Manderley again. . . The opening words of the best selling novel by Daphne Du Maurier are among the most famous in English literature, and the story was popularised by the 1940 Hitchcock film. So it was a brave decision by the Irving Stage Company to bring the story to the stage. I admit I had some doubts about how the vast country house in Cornwall and the final conflagration could be depicted. -The company accomplished it very effectively. The action was confined to the hail of Manderley, the country home of Maxim De Winter but the suspenseful tale was ingeniously played out within this small space. An impressive set, complete with the vital staircase, helped create the right atmosphere from the start. I had only a sketchy idea of the story: the menacing housekeeper, Mrs Danvers, taunting the new Mrs De Winter with memories of Max’s first wife, Rebecca, and the house burning down. Director Maureen Thompson ensured that the twists and turns of the plot were well conveyed, and suspense kept up to the end. A wealth of minor characters gave convincing support to the three principals. Joyce Coleman as Max’s outspoken sister was lively and amusing. Ray Dyer brought an austere realism to the role of the boat builder William Tabb. Chris Longman made the most of his part as the unmitigated bounder Jack Favell. By turns sneering, sleazy or searingly emotional, he was utterly credible. Jeremy Roberts lent a mature sophistication to the role of Max. He summoned up controlled emotion in the speech where he revealed the truth about his marriage to Rebecca (“You thought I loved her? I hated her!”). Clare Lawrance was less effective in the difficult role of Mrs De Winter. She did well in conveying the awkwardness and inexperience of the young wife, but her reaction to the news that her husband had killed his first wife and her unborn child was stoical in the extreme! Jo-Anne Kaye had all the severity and menace required of Mrs Danvers. but she lacked emotional depth in the scenes expressing the bitterness, rage and suppressed love for her. former mistress. As usual, the Irving Stage Company has produced a well-crafted production performed by a disciplined and talented company.
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