Gasps of shock and fear filled the auditorium of the Drama Studio on the evening of the 30th September, as the curtains opened on the first night of The Company’s latest show – ‘The Turning at Bly Manor’.
A well-blended script by Sam Islam combines haunting elements from Henry James’ ‘The Turning of the Screw’ with a thrilling modern day storyline. With a talented cast covering both the past and the present, could there be a better way to start off this year’s spooky season?
Our introduction to the five characters staying in Bly Manor in the modern day immediately hooked me into the mystery that carries throughout the play. Thomas Bickley as Owen particularly shone as an incredible comedic relief from the intense atmosphere, though also did not shy away from his own dramatic performance when the time was right. His obvious devotion to his wife, Rose (played by Phoebe Grana) was particularly compelling. Grana herself gave a fantastic show, the highlight of which came at the top of Act 3. You can see with such clarity the strain the events of the play and the house itself have on her character, with each word tinged with madness.
The character of Daisy played by Aimee Young was also handled incredibly: so obviously irritating at first, however I found myself incredibly fond of her as the play went on. Young’s performance captured both the irksome nature of Daisy, alongside the more nuanced vulnerabilities she later shows.
On the other side, David Osamudiamen and Abigail Wright as Miles and Flora respectively were the perfect creepy siblings without appearing too malicious; always seeming trustworthy enough to keep the story going, while leaving just enough doubt to have you questioning their true intentions. Hollie Warman as The Governess brought an appropriate harshness to the role as she struggled to grapple with the horrors unfolding at Bly and her equally as complicated affections for Flora and Miles.
I would like to give a special shout out to Roberto Rowinski’s portrayal of The Storyteller. What started as a classical narrator role evolved into something much, much more. His final appearance left me (and I’m sure everyone around me) with chills down to the bone, and really helped to solidify the terror of the story as a whole.
Importantly, a large amount of praise needs to go to the crew for this production. I see horror as incredibly difficult to pull off effectively in such a setting, let alone producing actual audible gasps and visible jumps from the audience. But that is exactly what they achieved. From the almost constant haunting score behind every scene, increasing in intensity just at the right moments, alongside intense and sudden lighting changes, it was hard to not feel at the centre of a horror movie. Without spoiling anything, there are some technical effects that I am still questioning the work behind the next day.
Overall, an evocative show that demonstrates its themes carefully, balancing humour with the tension that permeates the whole show. Again, horror is hard to pull off but when done well (as it is done well here) it creates an unforgettable show that sticks in the audience’s mind for a long time afterwards. I can only imagine this play getting better and better through the next few days as the cast and crew get even more confident in their roles. This is not one to miss
Rating: ★★★★☆
Image credits: The Company
