Review of The Whistling – The Mill at Sonning
I usually find that ‘ghost’ stories do not work on stage and have sat through Henry James’ “Turn of the Screw” and this very week “Dracula”, finding them soporific experiences! But Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel’s adaptation of Rebecca Netley’s 2021 novel The Whistling is a different matter!
For a start, there is Diego Pitarch’s ever-moving set depicting an imaginary Scottish island – but not as you would expect! For example, the construction of the boat in Act Two is not only very simple it is also very inventive as it moves across the water. Then there are Natalie Titchener’s evocative costumes, mostly in grey and black, but with a sudden touch of colour that is almost frightening in its effect. Simon Arrowsmith has created underscoring that, for a change, actually enhances the play and aids understanding. Lastly, there is the superbly atmospheric, ever-changing lighting design and mist effects by Richard G Jones, enabling us always to see facial expressions as well as adding to the tension.
Feeling alone after the recent death of her sister, Elspeth (Rebecca Forsyth) moves to the island of Skelthsea as governess to Mary (Saffron Haynes at the performance I saw), a nine-year-old who has just witnessed the death of her twin brother, William and has apparently lost the power of speech. She is cared for by her aunt and rather strange maid Greer (Raghad Chaar) and Hettie, Mary’s former governess (Nadia Kramer), still walks the island…
The novel, written in the first person, draws the reader in straight away, and the play does likewise, the “ghost” element being subtly hinted at, but the adaptation does avoid that pitfall of stage adaptations of novels: narration, which always slows any play to a crawl and destroys any attempt at building tension. In The Whistling there is tension aplenty!
Haynes is superb as Mary, managing to let the audience know what she is thinking without saying a word and using her physicality with surprising maturity. As Elspeth, Forsyth is on stage almost throughout, and therefore has the unenviable task of creating and building tension, which she does most effectively. Together they make a wonderful double act, drawing the audience in as the back story is gradually revealed.
However, this is very much an ensemble production and all the cast impress in role, bringing an ominous edge of Gothic Horror to the story which is totally appropriate. Director Joseph Pitcher never allows his actors’ characterisations to appear larger than life and has the knack of knowing where to push the story on and when to allow the audience to recover from a moment of horror! He is aided by Alex Christian as movement director, allowing the production to flow continually and is helped by Guy Barrett’s illusions: watch out for the moth!
As usual at Sonning, the performance is preceded by an excellent two-course meal, included in the ticket price; this time the menu has an appropriate Scottish flavour, such as Salmon in a Scotch Whiskey sauce (delicious!) as well as Neaps and Tatties, followed by Cranachan. But there is a wide choice for all tastes!
Usually, The Mill at Sonning offers revivals of thrillers and comedies, so this premiere of a new play is very welcome as being something that bit different. Warmly recommended – especially to the anonymous audience member who wrote to Chichester Festival Theatre asking why their programming couldn’t be more like Sonning’s!!
Review by John Groves
Writing duo Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel, who have brought The Girl on the Train and The Da Vinci Code, two of the bestselling books of all time to the stage, have adapted Rebecca Netley’s spine-tingling novel The Whistling for its world premiere stage production at the Mill at Sonning.
When Elspeth arrives on a remote Scottish island to become a nanny to a young child, she hopes to bond with her. Until she learns that, for reasons no one will explain, Mary has not spoken for months. And the girl’s silence is not the only mystery. Hypnotic lullabies drift down empty corridors. Strange dolls appear in abandoned rooms. And as the nights draw in, darker questions arise… What happened to Mary’s late twin, William? Why did their previous nanny disappear so suddenly? And is the whistling Elspeth hears at night just the storm outside? Or is somebody coming for her?
CAST
Raghad Chaar – Greer
Rebecca Forsyth – Elspeth
Nadia Kramer – Hettie
Heather Jackson – Ailsa
Jonny McGarrity – Patterson/Doctor/Robert
Stephanie Farrell – Violet
Susie Riddell – Bridget
The role of Mary is shared between Sophie Bidgood, Ivy Evans and Saffron Haynes
CREATIVES
Joseph Pitcher – Director/Movement Director
Alex Christian – Movement Director/Assistant Director
Diego Pitarch – Set Designer
Natalie Titchener – Costume Designer
Simon Arrowsmith – Composer and Sound Designer
Guy Barrett – Illusionist
Richard G. Jones – Lighting Designer
THE WHISTLING
Based on the novel by Rebecca Netley
Adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel
The Mill at Sonning
27 September to 16 November 2024