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| Photo: Paul Blakemore |
One for sorrow, two for joy…
Never has the magpie
rhyme seemed more eerie than in the Bristol Old Vic Young Company’s production
of the new gothic thriller Talon.
Written by Theo Fraser
Steele, Talon follows newlywed couple Mary (Amy Hunter) and James (Samuel Bailey) whose happy
marriage starts to feel the strain when Mary fails to fall pregnant after the
first few years. The scenes showing the passing of time and attempts to
conceive are perfectly directed in a simple but effective dance using a very
versatile white sheet.
When James has a
regrettable fling with a maid, which produces the much-longed for child, in a
fit of rage he puts the infant boy in a wicker basket, and pushes it away down
the river… thinking the boy will quietly die, but not realising he will be rescued
and raised by a tiding of magpies.
Mary knows nothing
about this, but her desperation for a child is driving her mad. Ambitious and
unscrupulous Dr Foster (Joseph Langdon) becomes a frequent visitor to the home, prescribing
laudanum to both James and Mary in a bid to help their insomnia and depression.
But his time with the couple instead leads to him unravelling a terrible
secret…
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| Photo: Paul Blakemore |
Directed by Miranda
Cromwell, Talon is a wonderfully chilling gothic tale that is compelling from
start to finish, with a constantly building air of menace. The magpie chorus
that surrounds the stage, and frequently dominates the action, is a wonderful
device, and one that produces fantastic sound effects and some truly haunting
singing. There is also a nice hint of old-fashioned BBC radio plays, with two
cluttered tables at each side of the stage, covered with microphones and props,
where various cast members retreat to provide sound effects, which works very
well.
Between the German
Expressionist lighting, the fantastic creation of imposing shadows, and the framing
of all of the action with literal, well, frames, Talon is a cracking example of
good theatrical storytelling. The cast are all very strong, and the inclusion
of a child actor for the boy (instead of an adult pretending to be a boy) is a
brave move that pays off.
Talon is performed at
Bristol Old Vic’s Studio until 11 January. Click here for more information.
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