The Signalman / M R James: Whistle and I’ll Come to you
Signalman: ★★★★☆ Thoroughly atmospheric
Whistle: ★★★☆☆ Spooky
The Signalman: Zoo Southside (Venue 82): Fri 2 – Sun 25 Aug 2024
M R James: Whistle and I’ll Come to You: theSpace @ Symposium Hall (Venue 43): Mon 12 – Sat 24 Aug 2024
Review by Hugh Simpson
Paragon Theatre Collective’s The Signalman and M R James: Whistle and I’ll Come to You from Blue Orange Arts are both fine examples of atmospherically spooky stage adaptations of classic short fiction.
Both stories are not only well-known in their own right, but became more familiar to a whole generation through their association with the BBC’s A Ghost Story For Christmas. The version of Charles Dickens’s story (originally The Signal-Man) is probably the most celebrated of all of those plays. Whistle actually came earlier than the series proper, but its success was the inspiration for the later plays and is usually considered part of the run.
Tim Larkfield in The Signalman. Pic: Paragon Theatre Collective.
Martin Malcolm’s adaptation of The Signalman largely stays true to the original tale of a railway operative in a lonely cutting who receives ghostly warnings but is powerless to do anything about them. The main difference from the story is the removal of its mysterious narrator, with the character of the Signalman (Tim Larkfield) addressing the audience directly. This, as well as removing some of the story’s eeriness, causes a potential problem with its conclusion – a hurdle which is cleverly overcome.
strong visual element
Larkfield’s performance is extremely impressive. He is an accomplished storyteller and an engaging, sympathetic presence, soon building up a rapport with the audience. He is helped greatly by Sam Raffal’s direction; the acting space is signally well used and the production’s strong visual element stops it seeming like a radio play on stage. This is enhanced by Ree Rolph’s effective lighting; Rolph is also responsible for putting Sam Welch’s excellent sound design into operation.
James Nicholas and Alan Groucutt in Whistle and I’ll Come to You. Pic:Blue Orange Arts
Whistle, meanwhile, has been adapted by James Nicholas, who also plays the initially sceptical Professor Parkins, whose discovery of a mysterious whistle at a historic seaside site leads to scary events. Nicholas has devised a backstory for Parkins that adds emotional complexity to James’s somewhat detached style, as well as elegantly chiming with the story’s (originally slightly longer, Burns-derived) title. While this is sensitively done, it does muddy the waters a little.
Nicholas’s performance is very impressive, and Alan Groucutt provides the other necessary characters with a cheerful versatility. The atmosphere is skilfully built up, and there is clever use of sound effects.
dissipated
It does, however, end rather abruptly, with some of the carefully achieved spookiness being dissipated. This production, furthermore, often lacks a strong visual sense, and does sometimes come across as a (very strong) audio play on stage.
Of the two productions, The Signalman is the more successful, but both have much to recommend them if you are looking for an involving stage realisation of a good old-fashioned scary story.
The Signalman: Running time one hour (no interval)
Zoo Southside (Studio), a117 Nicolson St, EH8 9ER (Venue 82)
Friday 2 – Sunday 25 August 2024
Daily (not 12, 19) at 2.55 pm
Details and tickets: Book here
Facebook: @SignalmanPlay
Instagram: @SignalmanPlay
X: @SignalmanPlay
M R James: Whistle and I’ll Come to You: Running time 45 minutes (no interval)
theSpace @ Symposium Hall (Annexe), Hill Place, EH8 9DR (Venue 43)
Friday 2 – Saturday 24 August 2024
Fri 2-Fri 16 (not 11): 6.15pm; Tue 20, Wed 21, Sat 24: 5.15 pm
Details and tickets at: Book here
Website: https://blueorangearts.co.uk
Facebook: @blueorangetheatre
Instagram: @blueorangetheatre
X: @BlueOrangeThtr
ENDS
