Review: Gas Light at Clayton Community Centre

Review by Greg Gorton

Gas Light (sometimes called Gaslight) is Patrick Hamilton’s play that coined the term we use today. Being placed into the public domain only a few years ago, I have been surprised by so few instances of it being produced. Having not read or seen the play OR the popular Hollywood movie, I had always assumed that it was a product of its time - dry, too wordy, perhaps having too many other icky aspects that paint everyone in a terrible light. But no, this is a script that holds up very well. Add to it the simple need of five great actors and a single well-designed stage, and I’m confused as to why we don’t swap out all the overdone Shakespeare and Chekhov plays for this masterpiece. Or switch between it and Rope.

It’s obviously clear that Encore Theatre saw the potential in this script, found some very creative ways to approach the characters and dialogue, and found a way to produce a fantastic night of theatre.

It begins with approaching the eponymous gas light itself. While much can be heavily praised in this show, the ultimate hero is the production design - diegetic lighting timed against the stage lighting, the careful creation of a “dark and moody” environment while giving the actors all they needed, and adding thoughtful but subtle sound design to add to this atmosphere.

Early in the play, Bella is unable to choose between a comedy and a tragedy. At times this very play could be both, as well as a thriller. What it couldn’t do (anymore) is be a mystery thriller. In today’s context, we know who the bad guy is, and that Bella is definitely not mad. Director Kym Davies knows this and works with this constraint well. So rather than ask for Paul Wanis’ Jack to give subtle little hints to his aims, we are offered a Jack so confident in himself and his control over his wife that, if you didn’t know better, you would think he really thought he was doing right by everyone. The dark chemistry between Wanis and Freya Timmer-Arends as Bella was amazing - from the early determination of Bella to “be better”, to the violent confrontations in the final act, the skill and confidence of each actor brought a new level of tension to the show.

Gieseppe Mauceri plays Detective Rough according to his name, unassuming in looks but sharp and charming in personality. It’s easy to believe a woman could be convinced to trust this grizzled old man, and that he could seduce her servant (and oh how I wished for more between Mauceri and Freddie Moon at Elizabeth). Both Moon and Caitlin Shephard have enough stage presence to be stars in themselves, and I think this is a core reason why the show works so well - five great actors who appear to work very well together.

I don’t know if it is unfair of me, but I always walk into a community theatre show with certain expectations, best explained by comparing my expectations walking into a Guy Ritchie movie and an Ari Aster movie. Both are very enjoyable to me, because not everything has to be so sincere all the time. I feel that not enough room is given in my theatre world’s schedule to see all the amazing suburban theatre out there, to enjoy theatre that is entertainment more than art, even when it is both. If anything will convince you to see more theatre at your local community centre, hall, church, etc, this will do it.

Gas Light is a show that has its importance as much as when the light dims and things go dark as it does when the light shines bright. This tension between thriller and comedy, and the deep desire to know if Bella will be okay, is played brilliantly by Encore Theatre, and it should be experienced by all.

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