Adapted and Directed by Ed Wightman
From the Henry Farrell novel, “Whatever Happened To Baby
Jane?”
Canberra REP production
Canberra REP Theatre, Acton to 8 March
Reviewed by Len Power 21 February 2025
The 1962 psychological horror film, “Whatever Happened To Baby
Jane?” is famous for its now iconic performances by the stars of the film,
Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. The film was based on a novel by Henry Farrell and
it is this novel on which Ed Wightman has based his play, rather than the film.
In the story, two sisters are living together in seclusion. Former stage child star, Jane Hudson (Baby Jane) is caring for her crippled sister, Blanche Hudson, formerly a famous movie star. It seems that Jane is responsible for the accident that resulted in her sister’s condition. Jane’s unstable state of mind results in an unrealistic plan to revive her child act while her aggression towards her sister increases alarmingly.
While the story in both film and play is basically similar, there is, wisely, no attempt to copy the performances of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.
Louise Bennet gives a winning performance in the marathon role as Jane Hudson. She gives the character of Jane an eccentric childlike quality that is initially funny and a little sad, making her gradual descent into a dangerous insanity effective and realistic.
As her crippled sister, Blanche Hudson, Victoria Tyrrell Dixon gives a fine, in-depth performance as a woman increasingly fearful for her safety who is unable to get help when she needs it.
The best moments in the play are the confrontation scenes between the sisters. Petty jealousies become serious conflicts as Jane’s mind deteriorates and both actresses make these sequences frighteningly memorable.
Michael Sparks gives a nicely controlled performance as the ghost of the sister’s father who appears in Jane’s mind at key moments in the play. The psychological impact he had on the young Jane is effectively detailed in Sparks’ performance.
Andrea Garcia plays the housekeeper, Luisa, with an appealing warmth and concern for Blanche’s situation while dealing with the difficult Jane, and Tom Cullen gives a good performance as Edwin Flagg, a seedy young man who sees a chance to take advantage of Jane’s delusions.
Andrew Kay’s detailed set of this faded Hollywood home is nicely claustrophobic. Ed Wightman’s adaptation of the Farrell novel works very well and his direction of both character and action is excellent, making this a fine and entertaining thriller.
Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs and published in his blog 'Just Power Writing' at https://justpowerwriting.blogspot.com/.
