The Curse of Elizabeth Faulkner was funny, entertaining and mildly unnerving; a brilliant combination of horror and comedy. In short, I absolutely loved it. The choice of venue fitted the tone well, the darkness of The Caves perfectly constructing a chilling and edgy atmosphere. With the gothic brickwork of the old vault and the lack of natural light, the stage crew had the ideal opportunity to create exactly what they wanted with the lighting, which they achieved through some dramatic lightning storms contrasted with unsettling darkness.
The company is comprised of only four actors, but this worked wonderfully in the small and intimate setting. Each individual brought their own comedic touch to the show and performed to the highest standard. The costumes, too, were well thought out and effective. They both suited the time of the play and helped the audience understand the character transitions with ease and clarity. The group made wonderful use of simple props and costumes, and it was a pleasure to watch this come together so effectively.
Balancing the gruesome tale of The Curse while keeping the audience laughing throughout was a task the company succeeded in with flair and skill. The quick witted one liners and hilarious back-and-forth dialogue between the characters definitely made the script shine. Anthony Coleridge lived up to the ‘comedy/horror’ genre fantastically and is a great example to any other company looking to do similar. If you enjoy laughing whilst being somewhat nervous, The Curse is definitely for you.
I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this show. It featured brilliant lighting effects, wonderful setting and talented young actors. Really, a thoroughly impressive show that was a pleasure to watch.
