Jamaica Inn. To 19 June.
Salisbury
JAMAICA INN
by Daphne du Maurier, adapted by Lisa Evans
Salisbury Playhouse To 22 May then tour to 19 June 2004
Mon-Wed 7.30 pm, ThuSat 8.00pm Mat 6/8/13/15/20/22 May 2.30pm
Theatre Day 13th May from 11.30 a.m.
Audio Described 20 May 2.30 and 7.30pm.
BSL Signed 19 May
Runs 2hr 32min One Interval
TICKETS: 01722 320333 http://www.salisburyplayhouse.com (Salisbury performances)
Review Mark Courtice: 6 May 2004
Melodramatic story fails to satisfy. Salisbury Playhouse is developing a new string to its bow by touring work produced at their home theatre round the country. Their first project is this new adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's rollicking tale of wreckers and high passion on the Cornish coast set in 1820. Quite why is still a mystery.
The unfortunate Mary Yellan has to stay with her downtrodden aunt Patience and brutish husband at Jamaica Inn after the death of her mother. The Inn is a sinister place perfectly reflecting the awful uncle Joss. The only ray of light is Joss's incorrigible but charming brother, Jem.
Light is needed as the whole affair takes place in gloom, occasionally shot with waving lanterns (often drawing sailors to their doom), costumes and set all contributing to the black mood. The design is clever with hanging cloths suggesting sails, or billowing fog; stools and chairs do duty as carriages.
The same economy of means informs other touches like the cast members who turn into animals, including a herd of rather sweet sheep.
The adaptation is neat and clever, avoiding long narration through the use of sung inserts to Matthew Bugg's spare score which makes reference to folk, but remains intensely musical. Another clever device is a character accompanying Mary as conscience and friend, a familiar hidden to others on the stage, economically dramatising Mary's emotional and moral struggle.
The direction has many of Joanna Read's hall marks; she uses space with freedom, and makes the audience join in an imaginative compact. She handles pace with confidence, creating climaxes that really make you gasp. The company sing well and as actors create effective moments, the cruel story of a wreck being especially scary in Mark Jax' hands.
The problem is that the novel is just melodrama. The mystery is slight, the romance thin, and none of the cleverness of director and adapter can disguise this. Indeed, the generally well behaved Salisbury audience broke into laughter at awkward moments the night I saw it, and quite right too.
Woman: Lisa McNaught
Mary Yellan: Laura Rogers
Joss Merlyn: Mark Jax
Aunt Patience/Gypsy/Mrs Bassat: Sara Weymouth
Jem Merlyn/Dozmary Man: Marcello Walton
Squire Bassat/Stranger: Chris Garner
Francis Davey/Cobbler: James Duke
Richards/Harry the Pedlar: Paul Mihell
Director: Joanna Read
Designer: Su Houser
Lighting: Jim Simmons
Sound/Original music/Movement: Matthew Bugg
2004-05-10 13:52:57