Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield – until 25 January 2020
Reviewed by Ian K Johnson
4****
First impressions of the set for Daphne Du Maurier’s play “My Cousin Rachel” is stunning. The setting is Barton House on the Cornish Coast ‘Guinevere’s Point, a desolate tidal island in Barton Bay.
A sweeping staircase dominates the stage which is used to its full potential by the cast. The action takes place in the main room of the house where much of play takes place. The sweeping staircase leads up to rooms (not seen) but is used to allow characters to move up to the next floor. The stage also has a revolve which allows us to see both sides of the staircase and the cast as they have conversations on it.
The cast includes Helen George (well known for her role as Nurse Franklin in “Call the Midwife“) as the lady in question Rachel Coryn Ashley, Jack Holden as Philip Ashley, John Lumsden as Thomas, Christopher Hollis as Guido Rainaldi, Sean Murray (as head manservant John) and Aruhan Galieva as Louise Kendall. The production also stars Simon Shepherd but due to his disposition on opening night the role of Philip’s Godfather, Nicholas Kendall, was played by Andy Hawthorne.
The play has some dramatic music played to full effect to highlight various scenes throughout the production. The audience can feel the atmosphere between Rachel and Philip, the full force of the electricity between them both passes across the stage and into the auditorium.
Jack Holden (as Philip) plays his part so well and takes his character to great lengths (he is rarely off stage) and is a very talented leading man. We see Philip grow throughout from a boy struggling from the death of his guardian to a man on his 25th birthday who knows what he wants and tries to get his future sorted only to be thwarted by the enigmatic Rachel, Helen George plays her with such passion and conviction that we can fully understand why Philip falls for her charm.
Rachel has some beautiful gowns and owns the stage when she is in view.
The ensemble cast all do their part and give justice to the roles they have.
This is a Theatre Royal Bath production.
Adapted by Joseph O’Connor, directed by Anthony Banks, designed by Richard Kent and lighting designed by David Plater.