****
Written Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman
Directed by Jeremy Dyson, Andy Nyman and Sean Holmes
 |
| Clive Mantle |
Some 15 years after its Lyric Hammersmith premiere and like a hardy stage perennial, Ghost Stories returns for a Halloween inspired seasonal six-week run at London's Peacock Theatre. Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson’s play is an exquisitely crafted piece of hokum in which, from the opening blackout through to the evening’s finale, literally nothing is what it seems.
In a tight one-act drama that chillingly fills 90 minutes, Nyman & Dyson shoehorn a handful of gruesome vignettes, each of which is perfectly performed. No spoilers in this review, save to say that the magic of the show’s ghostliness lies in its ingeniously created suspense. Each spooky yarn builds towards a jump scare that sees all of the intended frights landing with pinpoint precision.
Truly an ensemble piece, the main cast of Jonathan Guy Lewis, David Cardy, Preston (son of Andy) Nyman and Clive Mantle make the narrative flow with spot-on timing and immaculately nuanced acting. A nod too to Lloyd McDonagh whose modest role makes the nightmares truly come to life.
Like any good ghostly yarn, the show makes outstanding use of light, darkness, haze and illusion. Jon Bausor’s set design, James Farncombe’s lighting Nick Manning’s haunting sound design and Scott Penrose’s eye-boggling special effects all contributing to make the terror seem real.
A cracking night at the theatre, Ghost Stories is the scariest fun in town.
Runs until 8th November
Photo credit: Hugo Glendinning
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