The Haunting Of Hill House
Theatre Royal Brighton
until Saturday 24th October
By: Shirley Jackson
Adapted for the stage by: Stef Smith
Directed by: Martin Constantine
Hill House stands dark and empty in the mists, the far-away echoes of what once was walking alone through its corridors. This is the bone-chilling setting for The Haunting of Hill House, Shirley Jackson’s groundbreaking horror novel which has now been adapted into a play. Directed by Martin Constantine with a script by Stef Smith, The Haunting of Hill House is the perfect mood-setting evening for Halloween season. Prepare for unpredictable jumpscares, creaky doors, and a story weaved with the fabric of nightmares.
Our main character is Eleanor, a naive young woman who’s been chosen, among others, to stand witness to Doctor Montague’s quest to prove that Hill House is haunted. Eleanor and the other two guests, Theo and Luke, are to stay at Hill House and document their experience. They quickly realise that the house is more dangerous than they thought, and that it’s taken a special shine to Eleanor.
The story adapts surprisingly well to the stage. The production, the lights, and the design all contribute to create a setting that’s realistic, immersive, and ,more importantly, scary. Dark corridors run in and out of rooms, doors shut mysteriously and lights flicker for no reason. It’s easy to forget you’re sitting in a theatre, as your mind is quickly transported inside the house, even when you wish to leave.
The cast did a spectacular job at capturing the essence of the characters. Eleanor, Theo, Luke, and the doctor all have peculiarities, intents, wishes, and fears that come to life through the nuanced dialogue. Each character feels alive and real, as if they’d sprung straight from the pages of the novel.
The Haunting of Hill House is one not to be missed. It’ll leave your heart beating faster and chills running down your spine in two hours of terribly glorious fright.
Reviewer: Roberta Guarini
Photo: Pamela Raith
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cast
Jasper Britton (Dr. Montague),
Jemma Churchill (Mrs Montague),
Sian Howard (Mrs Dudley),
Sophie Lenglinger (Theo),
Robin Morrissey (Luke),
and Clancy Ryan (Eleanor)