A taut psychological thriller with a dark twist...
Regulars of Nottingham's popular Colin McIntyre Classic Thriller Season at the Theatre Royal know that each year there are three fine plays on successive weeks, chosen for their twists, turns, red herrings and very often gleeful humour.
My thriller fix for this week was Veronica's Room, not one I'd come across before but was intrigued by the unusual 15+ rating and ‘trigger warning’ posters on the way in. When I name checked writer Ira Levin while waiting for the curtain to go up, the dark psychological form for his books clicked, having seen his successful 70s film adaptations like Rosemary's Baby and The Boys from Brazil. This was going to be quite a change from the usual classic sleuthing.
A proper repertory theatre style single set performance, with just four actors, opens into what seems like an unused bedroom, dust sheets covering the furniture, a net curtain slowly blowing in the wind and the shadow of bars on the window. Modern, but hard to place.
Enter an ageing Irish couple the Mackeys, seemingly the house keepers to this large pile outside Boston (USA), accompanied by a young couple Susan and Larry in 70s period clothes, 1973 to be exact.
We hear how the Irish couple met the young couple in a local restaurant, Susan having an uncanny resemblance to Veronica, the young lady of the house they work in, who died of TB in 1935. Veronica's distraught, and now elderly sister, Cissi, is convinced Veronica no longer visits because she is angry at Cissi. The Mackeys ask if Susan and Larry would do them a great favour and come to the house, posing briefly as Veronica to put Cissi’s worried mind to rest.
Larry has his doubts, but Susan thinks it might be a bit of fun and is keen to help. By putting on one of Veronicas 30s dresses and clearing the room of dust sheets Susan is ready to play her part as the Mackeys go to get Cissi.
Susan is not too concerned when the door to the Veronicas room is locked, however when it is not the seemingly benign Mr and Mrs Mackey who open the door sometime later poor Susan’s world is turned upside down and she is flung down an unreal rabbit hole she may never escape.
Naturally the unwritten rule of reviewing whodunnits is being sworn to plot twist secrecy. However, fair to say things things turn rapidly uncomfortable and increasingly frightening as Susan faces some sanity questioning dilemmas in her role as Veronica. After the interval it gets much darker, will you see where this is going? This taut psychological drama is much bleaker that a regular murder mystery.
The Thriller Season veterans were on top form for this break from usual formats, Jeremy Lloyd Thomas and Susan Earnshaw as Mr and Mrs Mackey respectively and David Osmond as Larry. Newcomer Hannah Blaikie played Susan with steller presence, keeping the audience rapt as we empathised for her plight.
A really well crafted set, clever lighting and strong performances make ‘Veronicas Room’ one of the best Classic Thriller Season productions I’ve seen. Strong themes are well handled and emotive and chilling performances given by all.
I'm off to hit Ira Levins books off the back of this, including this one. It was that good. Thriller lovers who like a dark dark twist will thoroughly enjoy.
Veronica's Room plays until Saturday 24 August 2024 at Nottingham's Theatre Royal as part of the Colin McIntyre Classic Thriller Season.
We have a favour to ask
LeftLion is Nottingham’s meeting point for information about what’s going on in our city, from the established organisations to the grassroots. We want to keep what we do free to all to access, but increasingly we are relying on revenue from our readers to continue. Can you spare a few quid each month to support us?
