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Will Featherstone as Dan and Gwen Taylor as Mrs
Bramson Picture: Alastair Muir Night Must Fall
Malvern Theatres
**** AS
psychological thrillers go,
Night Must Fall
is a classic noir suspense that nicely builds up the tension. This story by Emlyn Williams dates back to 1935
so it has that Agatha Christie feel to it, but without the twists. It's more a study of a killer than a murder
mystery with a dash of Hitchcock style suspense - something that was
ahead of its time when first published. So much so that it has been made into a movie
twice, originally starring Robert Montgomery in 1937 and then Albert
Finney in 1964. Now it is back on stage for a UK tour brought by
Salisbury Playhouse and The Original Theatre Company in association with
Eastbourne Theatres. It follows the arrival of young smooth-talking
Dan at a remote woodland home where cantankerous old Mrs Bramson lives
with her long suffering niece Olivia and various household characters. Olivia can't help but feel that Dan is involved
in something despite him becoming the apple of her aunt's eye. It cleverly starts off at a slow tempo and then
gathers pace and momentum after the arrival of charming Dan, emphasising
what a change his personality has on the atmosphere and to this group of
isolated, unhappy bunch of people. Actor Will Featherstone
plays Dan with a wonderful panache - fast-speaking, beguiling and
attractive yet moody and menacing at the flick of a switch. Dan's
character is central to everything so Featherstone's fine performance is
the essence of making this play a success. TV and film actress Gwen
Taylor (of many a TV show like Bit of a
Do and
Duty Free) is
exceptionally good as moaning Mrs Bransom. She plays the elderly recluse as a spiteful,
self-centred and nasty woman but who also shows a tender, loving side to
the attentive Dan. It makes for a well-acted, classic thriller
although the plot may seem like it lacks the twists, turns and gore of
more modern mysteries. Despite that, it still has a charm about it that
makes it a very watchable play. To 08-10-16 Alison Brinkworth 05-10-16
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