With great reviews boasting the programme and publicity, expectations were high for Joe Byrne’s award winning The Haunting of Blaine Manor playing to Darlington Hippodrome this week.
Taking inspiration from Hollywood noir, Hammer Horror, folklore, ghost stories and American writing, Byrne not only wrote but has directed and cameo-starred in every production of this play; an investment of love and pride which might deprive position from objective observation.
It was a difficult and noisy audience, more doctors ‘ waiting room than auditorium, and the number of infirm belied the necessary suspension of belief. The coughs, colds and Covid hackers should have stayed at home If only I had stayed at home too.
The concept is interesting, the plot tired, the twist good, but the denouement unfortunately rushed. The script, dialogue heavy, dragged as the actors paced, arms waving, from front to back to front of stage again.
Andrew Yates’ Cairo’s makeup was great, but find the character and find the humour. The part of Vivian is an opportunity to be womanly, wailful and wily. Explore it and enjoy it.
Camp it up and ramp it up. This cast of players needs to play.
What was missing was the direction to deliver character beneath the lines. Employ the set and avail the props – use the globe, sit in the fireside chairs, warm your hands, invoke the audience and tell them your stories.
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