DANGEROUS OBSESSION. Two-act psychological thriller by NJ Crisp. Directed by Werner Steffen. Set design, decor Barry Altwig. Lighting Fin McCormick. Presented by Milnerton Players. At Milnerton Playhouse, Fridays and Saturdays until 13 October 2018.
SHEILA CHISHOLM reviews
The first thing that strikes one walking into Milnerton Playhouse’s auditorium is the outstanding set. Designed by Barry Altwig, he’s created such an attractive conservatory, modelling Mark and Sally Driscoll’s nouveau riche status, it’s more than worthy of nomination for a CATA award. Lush garden vegetation, seen through a picture window, is matched by bold leafy curtains, similarly patterned cushions strategically placed on a two-seater basket settee and two single armchairs. On audience left is the front door. On audience right a door leads into the interior of Sally and Mark’s upmarket home.
Completing Altwig’s detailed picture on opposites sides are posters; twin white stands – used for indoor plants, drinks, telephone and CD player. Table lamps lampshades are duplicated in overhead lights.
A menacing figure
It is late afternoon on a summer’s day when, into this elegant, restful scene wanders Sally (Andrea Fourie). She’s in her salmon pink swimsuit, black sarong and after fussing around her pot plants she moves to pour herself a drink. Concentrating on cutting a slice of lemon Sally doesn’t notice a man silently appearing at the window. Staring at Sally he presents a dark sinister figure then startles her by walking directly into the conservatory.
Knife in hand Sally demands to know who he is, how he entered her house and what he wants? That’s when we learn he is John Barrett (Lee William Speechly) he got into the house because Sally left the security gate open and hadn’t shut or locked the front door. Tall, bearded and dressed in black Speechly makes a menacing figure standing still clutching a briefcase.
In a threatening monotone he refers to a previous encounter (insinuating Sally and he had had a one night stand) Speechly talks her into letting him sit – not that he had any intention of doing otherwise. He obviously has some important business to clear up with Sally and Mark and isn’t leaving until he has. Sally’s memory is poor. She forgets things. However, bit by bit Speechly jogs her into remembering him. When Mark (Anton Schafer) appears, he is all for throwing John out, but Sally, taking John’s side, persuades Mark to let him stay.
Patient as well as implacable John slowly unpacks his connection to the couple.
English playwright, NJ Crisp’s Dangerous Obsession is a gripping story. He knows precisely that the skilful, layered psychological trap he’s written for John will slowly lay bare Sally and Mark’s personal and marriage secrets, and give John answers to long held suspicions about his own.
Crisp’s script sits ideally on these three thespians. If perhaps Speechly’s vocal range is limited, he’s forgiven as he holds soliloquy court for lengthy periods. On his interpretation hangs the success of this play.
Fourie displays a gamut of natural reactions to the seemingly endless stream of unexpected surprises John throws at her and Mark. Schafer is a confident actor, and if he (occasionally) over-reacted, he together with Fourie and Speechly make a tightly-knitted threesome. Guided by director Werner Steffen’s watchful eye they produced a thrilling evening of this psychological thriller.
Cape Town Theatre Guide: https://weekendspecial.co.za/stage-on-the-boards/
What: Dangerous Obsession review
Where: Milnerton Playhouse, Cape Town
When: Fridays and Saturdays until 13 October 2018
Dangerous Obsession Tickets: bookings@milnertonplayers.com
Milnerton Players: http://www.milnertonplayers.com
WS
