What is fear? Is it the unknown? Suspense? Things that go bump in the night?
If you’re off to see The Wicked Lady at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal this week, then prepare yourself for all three as James Williams’ story takes you on a haunting journey.
It’s that time of year for a good old fashioned ghost story, and this production builds up the suspense rather like a jaunt on a ghost train. You know something is going to happen – it’s what you’ve paid your money for – you just don’t know when and from where in the darkness it will appear.
The build up is a little drawn out, despite the fact the set and story line tick the expected boxes of haunted house, a ghost with unfinished business and a lone female. What is interesting is that the story is based loosely on fact. For haunting our crumbling mansion, Markyate Cell is Lady Katherine Ferrers.
Born in 1634 to a wealthy noble family, Katherine should have had a life of luxury only few could dream of. Sadly, from an early age she was plagued by tragedy. A lost husband and a lost fortune, she became a prolific highwaywoman with a life of crime (worth reading up about as a story in its own right, folklore says her ghost still haunts the vicinity of Markyate in Hertfordshire )
Our story builds like a roller coaster, going up and up before the inevitable drop. Directed by the writer, Williams knows how to have you on the edge of your seat. With every loud crash and bang you can see the audience jump. A sprinkling of comedy lightens the mood here and there, but before you know it the story throws you a curveball and you’re back in the action.
I don’t want to give too much away from the story, but will add that the acting isn’t restricted to the stage, so you could end up closer to the action than you think. Expect drama in the stalls, as well as sound effects that move around the set.
Twists and turns in the story start toward the end of the first act. Act two sees more of the story unfold as you try and guess the conclusion.
Just two actors carry the production. Saul Bache is Sargent Sean Fenton. The Detective who also introduces us to proceedings in which a missing young girl prompts the somewhat suspicious Sargent to enlist the help of Alice Beaumont Played by Nicki Davy, she acts her socks off in the role of a sceptic with her own painful story who debunks unexplained ghost sightings.
The set is simple. A huge sheet that pulls back to reveal the interior of Markyate Cell. I’ll be honest, I was expecting more special effects, but then sometimes what we imagine in our minds is actually scarier than anything that can be produced on stage. As the famous quote from Roosevelt goes (which we are reminded of at the very beginning) There is nothing to fear but fear itself. Reminding us it’s mad what our own minds can conjure up.
A test of your detective skills and nerve, The Wicked Lady delivers a ‘stories round a campfire’ type tale in a similar vein to The Woman in Black. It’s not terrifying in a scary movie kind of way, more a nice little spooky story night out in the run-up to Halloween.
Review by Tanya Louise
Editor
Book your tickets https://trch.co.uk/whats-on/the-wicked-lady-22/#book
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