Aylesbury Waterside Theatre – until 9 April 2022
Reviewed by Susan Portman
4****
Based on the Oscar nominated movie Fatal Attraction by James Dearden, this stage production will keep you on the edge of your seats. Starring Susie Amy, Oliver Farnworth and Louise Redknapp.
If you are over fifty years of age, you will more than likely have seen this movie at the cinema. The term ‘Bunny Boiler’ actually emerged from the movie!
I have to say that I haven’t seen the film in years and purposely didn’t watch it again before going to see this performance.
This is the story of a New York lawyer, Dan Gallagher, played by Oliver Farnworth, who on an impromptu night out with his friend whilst his wife and daughter are away, encounters Alex Forrest. He is attracted to her immediately and this leads to a night of unbridled passion between the two. When Dan wakes up the next morning, he immediately realises that
he has made a terrible mistake. He sneaks away without saying goodbye to Alex, believing that that would be the end of the matter. Alex – played by Susie Amy – has other ideas and she is not happy to be (in her eyes) spurned by Dan.
In the first scene we encounter Dan as he explains what a complete mess his life is. The audience is privy to a flashback where his problems began. We meet his wife, Beth Gallagher, played by Louise Redknapp as she is about to leave for a weekend away with their daughter, viewing houses in the country.
As the production progressed, we then witnessed the descent into madness, fuelled by jealousy and rage. Now pregnant and still feeling totally rejected she will either have her man or destroy him. The tension builds and the audience were gripped (apart from the
woman immediately to my right who was asleep, snoring like a rhinoceros) and on the edge of their seats.
The fight scenes between Beth and Dan were realistically shocking, whilst the bedroom scenes subtly portrayed the passion and electricity between Alex and Dan. The final act of self-immolation was disturbing, cleverly illustrating the fragility of the human mind. There was a very poignant and thought-provoking twist at the end.
Away from the actors themselves, I thought that the scenery and lighting had just the right balance to remain respectful of the cast and audience, given the nature of the story.
What might have been a very dark production, was sprinkled with lighter moments, especially regarding Dan’s friend Jimmy, played intelligently by John Macaulay.
All the characters portrayed the story effectively and professionally. The clever use of the stage set and lighting combine to quickly and efficiently pull the audience into each respective aspect of the story.
I am reluctant to select one standout performer because it was a very close call between Dan and Alex, but if you hold my feet to the fire, Alex just wins. I felt as if I was there, with her through all her desperate and emotional moments.
Stage adaptations quite rightly differ in some ways from the movies, ergo the audience should not expect an exact replication but in any event this play will not disappoint. It is a fascinating twist on a common theme of love and lust, of joy and despair and that is something which we can all relate to, I am sure. I must close by congratulating the
Waterside Theatre on bringing yet another first-class show to Aylesbury.