Richmond Theatre – until Saturday 11th February 2023
Reviewed by Carly Burlinge
4****
Richmond brings you When Darkness Falls, written by James Milton and Paul Morrisey also the director. The story is set on the Island of Guernsey regarding its History of folklore and the paranormal tales that have been told over the years.
The play opens on a very stormy and chilling evening where John Blondel (Tony Timberlake) a local Historian who is preparing to do his first pod of all the supernatural sighting and happenings, of many ghost stories that have occurred over time and haunted the island. He has a guest that has come forward offering him his insight about the unknown and to share his many stories as a writer and a paranormal researcher named The Speaker (Thomas Dennis). John being a sceptical historian with the views that Ghost are not real but the Speaker entices him with his five stories over the evening. Will they agree to disagree with such different opinions? or will John be pulled into the stories of the speaker, who as the night progresses become more believable by the minute. Turning John’s so-called confidence in his beliefs into a thought-provoking tension and bundle of nerves.
As John and the Speaker interact within the four walls of his unorganised, cluttered office with the storm outside, that’s clearly raging, detectable to the audience’s ears. This adding to the atmosphere of spine-chilling superstition.
The story further unfolds when elements begin to make themselves known with their spooky presence of lights going out, filing cabinets opening, lights flickering, books falling from shelves, with the occasional knock at the door, but is there anyone there!
I enjoyed how both actors jumped into different characters whilst the Ghost stories were being told. Although the stage appearance did not change, small props were used to enhance the tales whilst being told. All this gave it a slightly believable notion, which came across scary and eerie within the process.
With thunder blazing through the audience as a very sharp and noisy effect, scaring and making us all jump in our seats.
I really enjoyed some of the sound effects that were used throughout the show of pouring rain and also the terror of John’s heartbeat pound louder and louder.
The sound effects and lighting were done extremely well throughout the production
This show may not be to everyone’s taste, due to the theme, however I thoroughly enjoyed myself and would recommend a watch.
I must say it was very funny and entertaining watching everyone in the audience jump a few times throughout, also producing nervous laughter within the rest of the audience.