Isobel Knight

Arts Theatre Cronulla have had a fantastic year of shows; the ambition and attention to detail in their productions are always notable. Patrick Hamilton’s ‘Gaslight’, playing until November 29, is a prime example of this – a tight and talented cast, great set design and an audience kept enthralled throughout. The choice of this particular show is a tribute to James Bruce, a founding member of the Arts Theatre who contributed as a set designer and builder, lighting designer and director over the course of 61 years. The director has said that Bruce loved this play, and in this production you can see why.

‘Gaslight’ is a thriller from the 1930’s, the story of a woman who thinks she is going mad like her mother before her. Her husband is reaching the end of his tether, until a visitor interrupts the balance of their little world. This production has moments that made the audience genuinely gasp out loud. Michael Gooley both acts and directs, and the directing choices make the tension in the room palpable. Gooley chose to build the set according to James Bruce’s design, and it works excellently; the flickering gaslights, the period-accurate furniture and other set details function almost like an escape room puzzle, drawing the audience to notice small changes, our eyes drawn to everything from paintings to desk drawers.

Margareta Moir is a revelation in the role of Bella Manningham. Bella is a character under serious stress, and the physicality of how Moir portrays this woman in crisis is at times frighteningly real; her storytelling goes beyond the dialogue. Bella’s arc, in Moir’s hands, becomes the emotional thread that holds the story together, even as various mysteries unfold around her.

Gary Clark, playing Bella’s husband Jack Manningham, makes excellent choices in this show. Jack’s tone is generally light and unaffected, which makes the moments where that demeanour shifts very striking. There is a moment where he enters at the end of the first act that was one of the dramatic high points of the show, with his stillness and raw energy drawing gasps. His performance builds a lot of the show’s tension, and his choices with how to present Jack’s light and shade are a thrill.

Ann Sayegh and Suzie Stipanovic play Elizabeth and Nancy, the two maids of the house who orbit one another and interact with their bosses in very different ways. The choices their characters make shape how you perceive both Jack and Bella, and both Sayegh and Stipanovic create depth and reveal power dynamics within the world of the house, underscoring the claustrophobia that Bella clearly feels.

Michael Gooley plays a blithe and unafraid Inspector Rough, a visitor to the home who turns Bella’s world upside down. The tone of the whole show shifts when he enters, and Gooley’s Rough remains a wildcard throughout, reacting in unpredictable ways to the unfolding revelations.

ATC continues, with this show, their pattern of a strong cast telling a story with conviction and wit, with good direction making for a really enjoyable (if nerve-wracking) night of theatre. From Craig Oberg’s lighting design to the smooth stage-management by Michele Potter and Dahyla Oweichi, this is amateur theatre at its strongest: entertaining and artful. Jim Bruce would be proud.

To book tickets to Gaslight, please visit https://www.artstheatrecronulla.com.au/gaslight.

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