Directed by Jakop
Ahlbom
Presented by Canberra
Theatre Centre and Stichting Pels
Canberra Theatre to
15 September
Reviewed by Len Power
11 September 2018
The director of ‘Horror’, Jakop Ahlbom, was born in Sweden
in 1971 and found horror films to be an escape from his difficult childhood
environment. Now working as an actor,
choreographer and director in the Netherlands, this stage production is an
homage to the horror movie genre he loves so much.
It’s an impressive production that uses stage and magic techniques
to create horror movie set-pieces that would normally be achieved on film using
special effects. The multi-level set of
an old haunted house in which horrid things happened and continue to happen is
cleverly designed and suitably atmospheric.
The complex lighting design by Yuri Schreuders is masterful and the
music by Wim Conradi with Bauke Moerman shows a strong knowledge of classic
horror film music. It’s very loud and
some of the best scare moments are created by sudden music cues, as in all good
horror movies.
The ensemble cast of eight perform this extremely physical
work with bold character statements, athleticism and split-second timing. There are highly choreographed moments that
show their mastery of movement and mime.
There is no dialogue in the show which gives it a nightmarish quality. It’s played without an interval so there is
no escape from this horrific dream experience.
For horror movie fans there is the added fun of recognizing
the movie references. There’s everything
here from ‘The Old Dark House’ to ‘The Blair Witch Project’ to ‘Halloween’ and
‘The Shining’. A repeat viewing would probably
turn up many more references missed the first time.
At the opening night of ‘Horror’ at the Canberra Theatre, it
was interesting to note that the audience was generally younger than you
normally see for a play at the theatre these days. This was no surprise as horror films appeal
to younger audiences and they continue to be big business in the cinema.
Was ‘Horror’ scary?
The young woman sitting next to me watched the entire show with her
hands over her face and peeping out between her fingers. She visibly jumped at every shock
moment. I flinched once at an
unexpectedly loud music cue but otherwise wasn’t affected by it. I think it’s an age thing – I don’t go to new
horror movies anymore either. However, I
enjoyed the clever theatricality of this stage production. It really is extremely well done.
Photos by Sanne Peper
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast in his ‘On Stage’ performing arts radio program on Mondays
and Wednesdays from 3.30pm on Artsound FM 92.7.
