For a wonderfully hilarious escape to the world of vampires, ghosts, mummies and werewolves, set of course, in a stately manor on the moors, you can’t go past Castle Hill Players present production of The Mystery of Irma Vep – A Penny Dreadful by Charles Ludlam.
Two very talented actors, Paul Sztelma and Richard Littlehales, play several different male & female characters whose transformation is accomplished with remarkably quick and hysterical changes of costumes.
As befits a melodrama and farce the first act takes place at Mandacrest Manor, the ancestral home of Lord Edgar, an Egyptologist, and Lady Enid, a former actress and his second wife. He cannot get over the death of his first wife, Irma Vep, who died rather mysteriously and whose glaring portrait dominates the manor’s living room. The staff, maid/housekeeper Jane Twisden and outside man Nicodemus Underwood, manage to keep the estate running while harbouring deep secrets of their own.
As strange things begin to happen Lord Edgar decides to travel to Egypt and the play begins to take on many more twists and turns and things start to get out of hand. If the plot seems to become convoluted, don’t worry just go along with the flow enjoying each new revelation and all be resolved in the end.
Director Meredith Jacobs and her creative team have fine-tuned everything, particularly the costume changes, to present a very polished and highly entertaining production. Trevor Chaise’s set created a beautiful looking Victorian room in a Manor House with sufficient doors to allow appropriate exists and entrances. Then in act 2 we are off to visit an Egyptian tomb where even the stage hands are involved in some clever blocking.
The dressing and props were in the very capable hands of stage manager Denise Winters. Lighting design by James Winters and sound design by Bernard Teuben bring the whole thing to life and Annette Snars costume design draws continual laughter from the audience.
Make sure you get yourself tickets to this excellent production which highlights the talent and commitment of all involved. Playing until April 9 at Pavilion Theatre Doran Drive Castle Hill Showground.