Jane Cassidy as Mrs Manningham and Rachel Sloane as Mrs Rough in Gaslight
Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton is a psychological thriller set in the late nineteenth century and due to the subject matter of the play has led to the more modern term of Gaslighting, a type of emotional abuse that makes a person question their own actions, thoughts and sanity.
The Trinity Players are doing the play in support of the charity Lighthouse Women’s Aid, which is based in Suffolk and provides all kinds of support for women and children affected by domestic abuse.
It’s a dark play and you have to keep in mind when it was set and written, as the treatment of women and the way they are spoken to is deeply uncomfortable for a modern audience. But then that’s the whole point. This is all about a husband’s emotional abuse of his wife.
Michael Sherborne plays Mr Manningham with a sinister creepiness that befits the character and is thoroughly unpleasant to his wife. He justs needs a little more confidence with his lines as he has a great voice and plays the part well.
Jane Cassidy as Mrs Manningham is a women on the edge, being driven mad by her husbands behaviour and is suitably dithery and weak one moment then finds flashes of strength and sense the next.
The pace of the play is a little slow but it comes alive when Rachel Sloane arrives as Mrs Rough, the private investigator, who takes control of the situation with a calm head, a daring attitude and a nip of whiskey for Dutch courage.
Marlies Stephens as Elizabeth the Housekeeper is nicely subservient and in contrast Daphne Armstrong, as Nancy the maid, is equally devious in supporting roles which add extra texture to the plot.
The set, set dressing and costumes are all excellent and set the scene perfectly.
It was wonderful to see The Trinity Players so well attended with a good audience and makes my heart sing to see amateur theatre so appreciated.
Gaslight has one performance left tonight, Saturday 16th November at 7.30pm at Felixstowe Methodist Church @Trinity Hamilton/Orwell Road Felixstowe IP11 7AN
Tickets are £10 on the door.
SUFFOLK THEATRE 