The Haunting of Blaine Manor, Darlington Hippodrome Review
Written by Stacy for Theatre and Tonic.
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review.
It's safe to say that I'm one of the biggest scaredy cats around, I jump at anything. So of course I readily agreed to take myself off to the theatre to watch a ghost story. I mean why not? What’s the worst that could happen?
The Haunting of Blaine Manor is part of the gothic horror genre striving to join the ranks of the likes of The Woman in Black. The play is set in an old, supposedly haunted mansion and utilises classic horror elements to try and establish a chilling and eerie atmosphere among the audience. The senses are heightened when watching a piece of live theatre, therefore a ghost story naturally sets the senses on high alert. However, I was left somewhat disappointed.
Written and directed by Joe O'Bryne, the storyline centres around a group of characters who are drawn to the manor, each with their own motives and secrets. As the night progresses, the manor reveals its dark past, and the characters face their deepest fears. The script feels authentic to the period but although detailed and well presented, it felt too slow, building at such an idle pace I found myself wondering if any jump scare moments were ever going to happen. For me, it was too much talk and not enough action.
The entire piece is centred around the final pay off, which was very good, there's no denying that, however this final pay off was around ten minutes from the end. So what does that leave for the preceding moments of the play? More needed to happen along the way to keep the audience on their toes and wondering what could possibly come next.
Having said that, the cast of actors bringing the action to life were attentive and passionate about the piece, which translated well throughout. As a company they gelled well and each character had their spotlight moment, creating a collective atmosphere where they shone as a whole.
The Haunting of Blaine Manor is an intriguing paranormal tale. The piece was well presented with all the promising ingredients to present a compelling and chilling story. However, if you're looking for an evening of jump scares you won't find it here.
★ ★ ★