No trailer.
This was a marvelously gripping performance, particularly from the final scene of Act 1 and all of Act 2, this latter act which absolutely sped by. Diction and acting of all performers was first-rate. The MUPA stage was filled with one multi-purpose set, which was highly effective – although the large structure in the middle of the stage, while used effectively for two scenes where the front was pulled out into a screen for one scene in Bly Manor and the other at the church. Otherwise seemed to loom rather too dominantly for no good reason that I could discern.
Certain parts of the set – like Miles’s desk, (also, very unconvincgly used to represent the carriage in Scene 1,) and, surprisingly, two gravestones, standing by which Quint and Miss Jessel had their scene in Act 2 were mobile and used effectively.
The two children gave very good, natural performances without the gestural exaggeration that children on the stage often indulge in and the coped wonderfully with the very demanding music. And Miles’ miming of his piano playing in Act 2 was absolutely spot on and only the source of the sound prevented me from truly believing that he was playing it.
The adults were equally effective, although I was much less convinced by Miss Jessel’s ‘look’ with zombie paleness and long black hair as per The Ring; this seemed to make her character too unambiguously supernatural whereas all the others were utterly natural, with Quint having a disconcerting easy charm.
The most interesting aspect of the production though was what it did not do. I have both seen and read accounts of productions which view the action through one lens e.g. all a result of Freudian hysteria on the part of the Governess or the darkly disturbing aftermath of a sexually exploitative relationship between Quint and Jessel and Miles and Flora, or the ghost being unambiguously seen by the children. Here however there seemed to be no attempt to give a clear ‘answer’ as to the nature of the story and how much was real, how much imagined etc. We were left to make up our minds and this was very effective.
But I did note that, sitting in the front section of the stalls here did not necessarily give the best view, particularly with something being staged as there is no tiering to the seats and you have to consciously look up to the stage. A bit further back would be better I think.