Theatre Review: Gaslight

Gaslight

Playwright Patrick Hamilton

Adapted by Patty Jamieson and Johnna Wright

Director Lee Lewis

Roslyn Packer Theatre until September 15

Reviewed by Ron Lee, CSP

Gaslighting is defined as “a form of psychological abuse or manipulation in which the abuser attempts to sow self-doubt and confusion in their victim's mind. Typically, gaslighters are seeking to gain power and control over the other person by distorting reality and forcing them to question their own judgment, intuition and actions.”

The 1940 film that inspired the term was British made and the 1944 version starred Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer, Angela Lansbury and Joseph Cotton. The story is set in the Victorian Gothic period and it works beautifully there.

Why was Jack gaslighting Bella whom he had relatively recently met? What was his motive? Was he really gaslighting her or was Bella genuinely confused?

A standout in this production is Geraldine Hakewill as Bella, which is an ideal vehicle for showing us her acting chops. Her vulnerability reminded me of Audrey Hepburn. 

As the Mrs Danvers-like Elizabeth, Kate Fitzpatrick has the still stage presence to pull focus every time she's on stage. The first time I saw her was as Magenta in the original Australian stage production of The Rocky Horror Show in 1974. In fact, she spoiled every subsequent version for me because she had set the benchmark, just as Arthur Dignam did as Narrator in that show. No other Narrator since has measured up.

Even though he seems to have had stage experience, Toby Schmitz as Jack performs and projects more like a television actor than a stage actor.

Courtney Cavallaro as Nancy, the new servant, showed what a millennial might have been like in Victorian London. She’s quite a character who provides a degree of comic relief.

Even though it’s predictable at times, Gaslight is worth catching to appreciate the Bella and Elizabeth dynamic performed by two fine actors.