Good old-fashioned story telling is the key to the success of this entertaining one-woman show. Two spooky stories, one ghostly, the other ghastly, make an excellent contribution to the Islington venue’s Grimfest season, running throughout the month and perfect for getting theatregoers ready for Halloween.
Having tackled Restoration playwright Aphra Behn in a previous show, Claire Louise Amias takes on the role of author Edith Nesbit. Famous for her children’s books, Nesbit also wrote gothic stories, and Amias tells us two: The Shadow and A Strange Experience.
Taking the roles of a housekeeper and a governess, Amias’ narration is superb. Director Jonathan Rigby paces both pieces expertly and, although we hear about a lot of scary passages in the houses all the action occurs in, movement is carefully controlled. Amias flips from convivial, polite tones to terrified suspense in an instant. It’s delicious fun to be settled comfortably and know you are going to be appalled in the next moment.
The stories themselves are strong. The Shadow is a more conventional ghost story, although pretending the tale is not “rounded off” is an interesting move (does our nice narrator have a nasty secret)? A Strange Experience is even more of a murder mystery – a great take on gory – that looks at the “ghoulish nature of the living”. Debate your favourite but rest assured that both are memorable.
It’s credit to Amias’ skill that props are so minimal. I’d even suggest the few simple sound effects are unnecessary. As a suggestion that the audience close their eyes shows, performer and director appreciate the power of the imagination and know how to harness it. They take their cue from the Nesbit herself. Moments when the author is brought to the stage might be expanded, but they frame the stories well, and mention of her childhood fears provides another layer to consider, adding further substance to this small but perfectly formed evening.
Until 31 October 2024