GrimFest
A well presented collection of horror shorts. What it might lack in real scares it makes up for with its humour and stylesummary
Rating
Excellent
M.R. James makes for rich pickings for lovers of a good ghost story. There’s even a style of writing named after him, ‘Jamesian’, which Midnight Circle more than make full use of. We have the characterful setting of what appears to be a stately home (the show was originally played at Longfield Hall as an immersive experience). Then there’s the naive gentleman-scholar Cambridge Professor Parkin acting as the main protagonist, here a role undertaken by Nicholas Benjamin. Finally, there’s an old book or object that can unlock the unwelcome attention of a supernatural menace; in fact we get both; an old book that is passed around between each storyteller, along with an oil lamp which clearly has much more meaning to it than just to provide the light.
Made up of four stories from James’ collection Ghost Stories of an Antiquary, the individual pieces are held together within a neat framing device to give the play an overarching story of its own. As with all the best ghost stories, this framing device sees four apparent strangers brought together and isolated: set in the 1940s the isolation is naturally delivered by it being the Blitz. And as any horror lover will already have surmised, nothing is quite as it seems. From the off, there are lingering questions of ‘why?’ Why are they here? Why these four? Why is the caretaker so protective of his oil lamp? And why do they hide the whistle from Parkin?
The Old Red Lion Theatre is a perfect location to tell ghost stories. It’s full of creaking wooden floors and seats and provides a near perfect blackout, whilst its four doorways allow for every trick to be used to draw out the creepiness. It’s all put to great use by Benjamin’s directing, wringing every drop from the script.
Whilst Benjamin’s Parkin may be the main focus, Miles Blanch‘s Harlan holds the pieces together superbly, delivering a rather off-putting caretaker-like character, clearly the conductor of proceedings. Alongside him, Niamh Handley-Vaughan and Nadia Lamin bring their own mysteries with them, making a trio that you sense are in cohorts somehow against the Professor.
The show is a lot of fun, but perhaps not quite the scare fest desired. Each story’s final twist doesn’t quite have enough punch to make you gasp out loud. It’s likely that the move from Longfield Hall where the show was presented immersed within the fabric of a distinctive building has tempered some of its jump value. But what’s missing in jumps is certainly made up for with the humour and staging that means things are never in the least bit dull.
The clever writing and framing takes us quickly into each individual story as the book is passed between our four hardy souls, each becoming possessed and forced to enact the tale being told. It’s a nice idea well executed. But maybe it’s also this impulse to keep the story flowing that further affects the dramatic conclusion of each, as if not enough time is given to conclude one tale before instantly switching back to the here and now to prep us for the next story.
For those seeking an adrenaline rush from the scares this might not be quite the show for you. But for those looking for some delightful storytelling with a little edge then Ghost Stories of an Antiquary more than delivers. With four interesting tales from the pen of M.R. James, along with the mystery of quite why all four characters have been drawn together, there’s plenty here for those who aren’t completely afraid to go out in the dark.
Based on the books of: M.R James
Adapted and produced by: Midnight Circle Productions
Directed by: Nicholas Benjamin
Ghost Stories of an Antiquary has completed its run for GrimFest. It will also be playing Colchester Fringe from 28 October to 2 November. Further information available here.
