By Ian Diddams
Images by Jeni Meade
No aficionado of 1960s and 1970s horror films would have missed seeing “Rosemary’s Baby”, a story of Satanic pregnancy, based on the book by Ira Levin. Shortly after that book’s release, Levin write a stage play “Veronica’s Room” which followed “Rosemary’s Baby” tone of horror with a disturbing, psychological thriller.
The Wharf’s production opens with a furniture draped bedroom, which is soon revealed to be Veronica’s room. The entire play is set in this room which in itself gives off a creepy, dark atmosphere; you can almost smell the mustiness of the dingy, sparsely furnished bedroom. A bed, chaise-longue, table and chairs, wardrobe… and a barred window. Director John Winterton and his team designed and created the set and its ominous undertones, and the tech team produce eery lighting, subtly and extremely effectively fitting for this play. Without providing spoilers it’s however fine to say the costumes required for the story fit the requirements perfectly. And as ever Gill Barnes and the costume team have come up trumps to further set the period and the characterisations.
It’s a short play timewise – two acts comprising eighty minutes in total, plus an interval. But it is far from short with plot twists and turns, and as each new piece of information unfolds, we are drawn into a darker and more sinister world each time. The cast of four work well together to deliver Levin’s increasingly twisted story, with John’s direction keeping the pace exactly right at all times.
Jax Brady plays The Woman, embracing all the mood swings and dialects with ease, the perfect loving partner to The Man played by Gary Robson, whose sombre delivery is befitting of his character’s inner turmoil and glimmers of hope, of his love for The Woman whilst uneasy with their shared knowledge. Abigail Baker plays The Girl around whom the plot centres; at first brazenly flirtatious, then finally broken, desperate and terrified. The Young Man – the object of The Girl’s desires – is played by Cameron Williams who also has challenging characterisation and manages it sublimely.
It would be fair to say that “Veronica’s Room” is also challenging for the audience – it is a horror, and a psychological one at that, preying on one’s mind. Levin’s story is a slow burner to begin with but as Act 2 in particular progresses it becomes a runaway train with hard hitting realisations developing the full horror coming thick and fast. The cast and crew have created a super rendition of Levin’s story that will surely have you checking under your bed when you go to sleep afterwards…
“Veronica’s Room” is performed at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes January 2th to February 1st at 7.30pm each evening.
Tickets available online and from Devizes Books.
devizine.com 