There lived a certain man in Russian long ago…. But did you know the famous Rasputin's killer was a prince called Felix Yusapov, a man with a taste for the supernatural? He published his memoirs Lost Splendour in 1953. This book has become the inspiration for the spooky spectacular that is “in defiance of gravity” at Summerhall this fringe.
Sex, drugs and seances
The play centres around the life of the gifted Ezra, a man who could conjure fire and commune with the dead. A gifted medium or a gifted crook, that is not for me to say. Ezra uses his skills to work his way into Russian high society through a mixture of sex, drugs and seances.
Horror theatre is on the rise, becoming increasingly popular year on year and this show is a credit to the genre. It holds tension well throughout, paying respects to its gothic horror roots through its pacing and writing style. Although at times this effect can be slightly cheapened by the over-reliance of thunder based jump scares and the dodgy floating urn prop. The cast themselves are excellent, successfully delivering the gravity and intensity required to pull off a story with this level of heightened bizarre spectacle. Led by Saul Boyer as Ezra, the cast move between scenes of manic melodrama to steamy sexual tension with ease. The show is worth seeing for these electric acting performances alone. There are some moments of comedy that are played well but for the most part this is a gripping drama that keeps the audience asking questions and guessing the plot’s twists and turns.
Sound design was an important part of this production and is used throughout to build the suspense with ticking clocks and low ominous humming sounds. It is a shame that the venue cannot provide a full blackout, as this would enhance some of the more shocking moments.
For anyone interested in contemporary horror theatre this show should be one to add to your watchlist and I, for one, can't wait to see where this company goes next.
